Laboratory bleeding predictors in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation taking direct oral anticoagulants

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common arrhythmias in patients ≥75 years of age. The increased risk of thrombosis due to age and the large number of concomitant diseases makes it evident that anticoagulant therapy is necessary. However, the same factors increase the risk of hemorrhagic complications, which are among the most dangerous side effects of anticoagulant therapy. That is why it is very important to identify patients with the highest probability of bleeding, whether large or small clinically significant and minor. The purpose of our study was to study the prognostic value of laboratory methods of examination with regard to the development of hemorrhagic events in elderly patients with AF taking direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC). The study enrolled 102 patients ≥75 years of age with AF of non-valve etiology taking dabigatran, apixaban, rivaroxaban at full or reduced doses. Anticoagulants were administered by outpatient and inpatient physicians. Both previous experience with DOAC prior to inclusion in the trial (if DOAC was previously prescribed) and prospective patient monitoring after inclusion in the trial were analyzed. The minimum analyzed period of DOAC intake was 18 months. Patients who underwent (n = 19) and did not undergo (n = 83) hemorrhagic events (all events were considered small by ISTH criteria) did not differ in any of the laboratory indicators potentially considered as predictors of hemorrhagic events.