Social Inequalities of Oral Anticoagulation after the Introduction of Non-Vitamin K Antagonists in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Nationwide social inequalities of oral anticoagulation (OAC) usage after the introduction of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have not been well identified in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). This study assessed overall rate and social inequalities of OAC usage after the introduction of NOAC in Korea.METHODS: Between January 2002 and December 2016, we identified 888,540 patients with AF in the Korea National Health Insurance system database. The change of OAC rate in different medical systems after the introduction of NOAC were evaluated.RESULTS: In all population, overall OAC use increased from 13.2% to 23.4% (p for trend <0.001), and NOAC use increased from 0% to 14.6% (p for trend <0.001). Compared with pre-reimbursement (0.48%), the annual increase of OAC use was significantly higher after partial (1.16%, p<0.001), and full reimbursement of OAC (3.72%, p<0.001). Full reimbursement of NOAC (adjusted odds ratio, 2.10; 95% confidence interval, 2.04–2.15) was independently associated with higher OAC use. However, the difference of overall OAC usage between tertiary referral hospitals and nursing or public health centers increased from 17.9% in 2010 to 36.8% in 2016. Moreover, usage rate of NOAC was significantly different among different medical systems from 37.2% at the tertiary referral hospital and 5.5% at nursing or public health centers.CONCLUSIONS: Introduction of NOACs in routine practice for stroke prevention in AF was associated with improved rates of overall OAC use. However, significant practice-level variations in OAC and NOAC use remain producing social inequalities of OAC despite full reimbursement.

Anticoagulación en poblaciones especiales con fibrilación auricular / Anticoagulation in populations special with atrial fibrillation

Resumen La seguridad y eficacia de los anticoagulantes directos se ha demostrado como alternativas al tratamiento con antagonistas de la vitamina K en pacientes con fibrilación auricular (FA), permitiendo realizar una cardioversión precoz, especialmente en los pacientes tratados con Rivaroxabán y Edoxabán. Los pacientes con FA presentan un riesgo tromboembólico elevado, que varía según el número de factores de riesgo asociados. Además de esas características intrínsecas de cada individuo, el procedimiento de ablación puede presentar un incremento de eventos, en relación a la introducción y manipulación de catéteres, la presencia de introductores dentro de la aurícula izquierda y las lesiones endocárdicas producidas por la ablación. Por lo que es fundamental mantener la anticoagulación durante este procedimiento. Un tercer aspecto importante a tener en cuenta es el manejo perioperatorio de estos casos. El tiempo previo para suspender la terapia anticoagulante depende de cada fármaco, no se requiere puente con heparinas de bajo peso molecular y para el manejo de posibles sangrados existen algoritmos que analizaremos.

Abstract The safety and efficacy of direct anticoagulants has been demonstrated as alternatives to treatment with vitamin K antagonists in patients with atrial fibrillation (FA), allowing early cardioversion, especially in patients treated with Rivaroxaban and Edoxaban. Patients with AF have a high thromboembolic risk, which varies according to the number of associated risk factors. In addition to the intrinsic risk of each individual, the ablation procedure presents an increased risk of events, in relation to the introduction and manipulation of catheters, the presence of sheaths inside the left atrium and the endocardial lesions produced by ablation. For this reason, it is essential to maintain anticoagulation during this procedure. Finally, we present some aspects about the management in the perioperative period in this patients.

Anticoagulation for Stroke Prevention in Older Adults with Atrial Fibrillation and Comorbidity: Current Evidence and Treatment Challenges

The burden of atrial fibrillation (AF) is projected to increase substantially over the next decade in parallel with the aging of the population. The increasing age, level of comorbidity, and polypharmacy will complicate the treatment of older adults with AF. For instance, advanced age and chronic kidney disease have been shown to increase the risk of both thromboembolism and bleeding in patients with AF. Frailty, recurrent falls and polypharmacy, while very common among elderly patients with AF, are often overlooked in the clinical decision making despite their significant interaction with oral anticoagulant (OAC) and profound impact on the patient's clinical outcomes. Such factors should be recognized, evaluated and considered in a comprehensive decision-making process. The introduction of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants has radically changed the management of AF allowing for a more individualized selection of OAC. An understanding of the available data regarding the performance of each of the available OAC in a variety of at risk patient populations is paramount for the safe and effective management of this patient population. The aim of this review is to appraise the current evidence, point out the gaps in knowledge, and provide recommendations regarding stroke prevention in older adults with AF and comorbid conditions.

The Persistence of Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants in Korean Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are increasingly used for stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), showing better efficacy and safety than warfarin. However, the rates or reasons for discontinuation of NOACs in clinical practice have not been clarified. The aim of this study was to compare 3 NOACs (apixaban, rivaroxaban, and dabigatran) with warfarin in terms of medication persistence. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 1,527 patients with NVAF who had recently started taking NOACs between January 2012 and September 2015 (294 apixaban, 748 rivaroxaban, and 485 dabigatran) and compared them with 363 patients with NVAF who started taking warfarin between January 2012 and December 2013 at the Samsung Medical Center. RESULTS: The mean follow-up duration was 532 days. The discontinuation rates were higher in the 3 NOAC groups than in the warfarin group within the first year. The major causes of discontinuation were maintenance of sinus rhythm; adverse events, including all bleeding and gastrointestinal symptoms; and patients demand. The adverse event rate was lower in the warfarin group than in the 3 NOAC groups. No significant differences in thromboembolic and major bleeding events were found between the 3 NOAC groups and the warfarin group. CONCLUSION: In a single-center study, NOACs showed lower medication persistence and higher adverse event rates than warfarin during the first year.

Cerebral Infarction in an Elderly Patient during Dabigatran Treatment / General Medicine

A 91 year-old male who was orally receiving dabigatran and digitalis for chronic arterial fibrillation was hospitalized for cerebral infarction (CI). The complications of anemia due to gastrointestinal bleeding and the development of renal failure were also found, which enhanced the effect of digitalis. This enhanced drug action induced bradycardia and hypotension. The hypotension was improved by implanting a temporary pacemaker, and the neurological abnormal findings also disappeared with the improved blood pressure. In many cases, dabigatran is efficient in preventing CI, but in our case it in fact triggered a CI hemodynamically due to bradycardia and hypotension with gastrointestinal bleeding.

Novel oral anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation

Anticoagulation therapy is effective in preventing primary and secondary thromboembolic events due to atrial fibrillation. Warfarin, which was approved by the United States in 1954, was the only long-term oral anticoagulation therapy till the approval of dabigatran in 2010, and of rivaroxaban and other direct factor Xa inhibitors from 2011, forming a group known as novel oral anticoagulants (NOAC). NOAC have fewer food and drug interactions compared to warfarin; hence, the patient will require fewer clinic visits. However, the short half-life of NOAC means that twice-a-day dosing is needed and there is higher risk of a prothrombotic state when doses are missed. Other disadvantages are the lack of long-term data on NOAC, their high cost and the current lack of locally available antidotes.