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Comparing mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation who are receiving a direct-acting oral anticoagulant or warfarin: a meta-analysis of randomized trials

Liew, A.
; 
O'Donnell, M.
; 
Douketis, J.
Repository DOI
Publication Date
2014-07-25
Keywords
anticoagulants, atrial fibrillation, hemorrhage, mortality, warfarin, re-ly trial, venous thromboembolism, heart-association, dabigatran, guidelines, therapy, stroke, prevention, management, update
Type
Article
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Citation
Liew, A. O'Donnell, M.; Douketis, J. (2014). Comparing mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation who are receiving a direct-acting oral anticoagulant or warfarin: a meta-analysis of randomized trials. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis 12 (9), 1419-1424
Abstract
BackgroundIn patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF), direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are at least non-inferior to warfarin for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism. The main objective of this study was to obtain reliable and precise estimates for all-cause mortality, vascular mortality and bleeding mortality in patients with AF receiving a DOAC or warfarin for stroke prevention. MethodsA meta-analysis was performed on phase3 randomized trials that compared a DOAC with warfarin for stroke prevention in AF. Published data were pooled by use of the DerSimonian random-effect model, with revman5.2 and comprehensive meta analysis software version2. The results were presented as risk ratios (RRs), absolute risk reduction (ARR), and number-needed-to-treat (NNT). ResultsA total of 71683 patients were included in this meta-analysis from four randomized controlled trials (median patient follow-up: 1.8-2.8years) that compared a DOAC with warfarin for stroke prevention in AF. As compared with warfarin, DOACs significantly reduced all-cause mortality (RR0.89, 95% confidence interval [CI]0.85-0.94; ARR0.76%, 95%CI0.39-1.13%; NNT=132), vascular mortality (RR0.88, 95%CI0.82-0.94; ARR0.53%, 95%CI0.23-0.83%; NNT=189), and bleeding mortality (RR0.54, 95%CI0.44-0.67; ARR0.32%, 95%CI0.21-0.43%; NNT=313). ConclusionAs compared with warfarin therapy for stroke prevention in patients with AF, DOACs significantly reduce all-cause mortality, vascular mortality, and bleeding mortality. This mortality benefit appears to be driven by the reduction in vascular-related and bleeding-related mortality, which, in turn, may be related to the reduction in intracranial bleeding.
Funder
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
Publisher DOI
10.1111/jth.12651
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Ireland
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Externally hosted open access publications with University of Galway authors (2)