Safety of concomitant use of oral anticoagulants and antidiabetic drugs: a systematic review of observational studies

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ABSTRACT Introduction We systematically reviewed observational studies assessing the safety of concomitant use of oral anticoagulants (OACs) and antidiabetic drugs (ADs). Methods We systematically searched MEDLINE/PubMed and EMBASE up to 10/2024 for cohort, case-control, and case-only studies on concomitant use of OACs and ADs and the risk of adverse outcomes (hypoglycemia, bleeding). Risk of bias was assessed using the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool. Results We identified five cohort studies and two self-controlled case-series (n = 1,370,036). Concomitant use of sulfonylureas and warfarin was mostly associated with increased risks of hypoglycemia versus sulfonylurea use alone (five studies); results were heterogeneous when comparing concomitant use of sulfonylureas and warfarin versus concomitant use of sulfonylureas and DOACs (two studies) and concomitant use of non-sulfonylurea ADs and warfarin versus non-sulfonylurea AD use alone (two studies). Concomitant use of warfarin and sulfonylureas was not associated with the risk of bleeding versus warfarin use alone (one study). Via ROBINS-I, four studies were at moderate, one at serious, and two at critical risk of bias. Conclusions Given inconsistent findings and a non-negligible risk of bias, observational studies do not suggest major clinical hazards due to concomitant use of OACs and ADs. (PROSPERO registration: CRD42024505475).