Apixaban vs. Rivaroxaban for Acute Venous Thromboembolism

In a real-world comparison, the benefit-to-risk ratio favored apixaban with similar efficacy and lower rates of bleeding.

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are now more commonly prescribed than vitamin K antagonists owing to better predictability and reliability, a lack of need for monitoring, and reduced risk for bleeding. Among DOACs, apixaban and rivaroxaban are more commonly used for patients with acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) than dabigatran or edoxaban, which require heparin or low-molecular-weight heparin bridging.

Now, investigators have performed a meta-analysis of five studies (4 retrospective, 1 prospective) to compare the efficacy and safety of apixaban versus rivaroxaban in a total of 24,041 patients with acute VTE (not atrial fibrillation) in real-world settings. The primary outcomes were VTE recurrence at 6 months and major and minor bleedi…

Reviewing Author

Brady L. Stein, MD, MHS

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Hematology (Senior Editor, ASH Self-Assessment Program; guideline development)

Brady L. Stein, MD, MHS

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Hematology (Senior Editor, ASH Self-Assessment Program; guideline development)

Apixaban vs. Rivaroxaban for Acute Venous Thromboembolism

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Reviewing Author