Abstract
The use of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) has been increasing. Accordingly, the combined use of antiplatelet agents (APT) and NOAC therapy is commonly encountered in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes between combination therapy (NOAC and APT) vs. monotherapy (NOAC only) in patients with AF. We retrospectively analyzed patients who were prescribed NOACs between January 2012 and December 2016. The primary outcome was major bleeding and any bleeding events, and the secondary outcomes were stroke/systemic embolic (SE) events and major adverse cardiac events (MACE). Of the 1068 participants, there were 264 (24.7%) patients in the combination therapy group. The prevalence of diabetes (p = 0.017) and history of stroke and transient ischemic attacks (p < 0.001) was higher in the combination group than in the monotherapy group. During the mean 14.6 ± 9.8 months of follow-up, the incidence of any bleeding was significantly higher in the combination therapy group than in the monotherapy group (p < 0.001). The rate of major bleeding, stroke/SE, and MACE between the two groups was similar. The rate of under-dosage NOAC prescriptions was higher in the combination therapy group than in the monotherapy group (p = 0.024). The combination therapy group had higher incidences of any bleeding events compared to the monotherapy in patients with appropriate dosing. However, there was no difference in stroke/SE, and MACE. The bleeding risk in AF patients taking the combination of NOACs and APT should be carefully evaluated.
Highlights
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common form of sustained cardiac arrhythmia
Oral anticoagulants (OACs) have been the cornerstone of stroke and systemic embolism (SE) prophylaxis in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Several studies including both randomized controlled trials and real world-settings have shown that non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in patients with non-valvular AF were more effective than warfarin in preventing thromboembolic events and reducing the risk of bleeding events [2,3,4,5,6]
The patients were divided into combination therapy or monotherapy groups according to whether or not antiplatelet therapy (APT) was administered with NOACs
Summary
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common form of sustained cardiac arrhythmia. According to the guidelines, it is estimated that 15% of strokes occur in patients with AF [1]. Studies have reported conflicting results regarding the combination of OACs and APT to optimize ischemia and bleeding risk. For this reason, finding the optimal balance of the appropriate treatments for each patient with indicators for both treatments is critical in achieving clinical benefits. The rate of under-dosage NOAC prescriptions was higher in the combination therapy group than in the monotherapy group (p = 0.024). Conclusions: The combination therapy group had higher incidences of any bleeding events compared to the monotherapy in patients with appropriate dosing. The bleeding risk in AF patients taking the combination of NOACs and APT should be carefully evaluated
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