Which Anticoagulant Class Is Most Effective in Patients with Cancer?

Direct-acting oral anticoagulants are associated with the lowest recurrence of venous thromboembolism and lowest mortality.

In patients with cancer who develop venous thromboembolism (VTE), guidelines now recommend direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) over low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) due to better efficacy and safety. In a real-world retrospective cohort of 5100 insured patients with various types of cancers (60% with metastatic disease), half received DOACs, one quarter received LMWH, and one quarter received warfarin. Median treatment duration was approximately 3 months.

In propensity-score–weighted analysis, VTE recurrence was significantly less likely in patients who received DOACs than in those who received warfarin or LMWH (20 vs. 30 and 40 VTEs per 100 person-years, respectively). Mortality was significantly lower in DOAC recipients than in LM…

Reviewing Author

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

Disclosures

RoyaltiesMcGraw-Hill; Elsevier

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

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

Disclosures

RoyaltiesMcGraw-Hill; Elsevier

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

Which Anticoagulant Class Is Most Effective in Patients with Cancer?

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Reviewing Author