Apixaban Might Be Safer and More Effective Than Rivaroxaban for Atrial Fibrillation

In a real-world retrospective cohort, apixaban was associated with fewer strokes and less major bleeding.

Apixaban (Eliquis) and rivaroxaban (Xarelto) are the most commonly prescribed direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for patients with atrial fibrillation; however, head-to-head comparisons of the two agents are lacking. In a retrospective cohort of >90,000 patients (mean age, 69) with atrial fibrillation, investigators accessed 6 years of prescription data from a nationwide U.S. commercial health insurance database to examine 9-month outcomes in patients with new apixaban or rivaroxaban prescriptions. The two drugs were compared in a propensity score–adjusted analysis.

Compared with rivaroxaban patients, apixaban patients had significantly lower rates of stroke or systemic embolism (6.6 vs. 8.0 events per 1000 person-years) and significa…

Reviewing Author

Daniel D. Dressler, MD, MSc, SFHM, FACP

Disclosures

RoyaltiesMcGraw-Hill; Elsevier

Editorial BoardsMedical Clinics of North America; Caribbean Medical Journal International Advisory Panel (2021–2026)

Daniel D. Dressler, MD, MSc, SFHM, FACP

Disclosures

RoyaltiesMcGraw-Hill; Elsevier

Editorial BoardsMedical Clinics of North America; Caribbean Medical Journal International Advisory Panel (2021–2026)

Apixaban Might Be Safer and More Effective Than Rivaroxaban for Atrial Fibrillation

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Reviewing Author