Prescription Frequency and Predictors for the Use of Novel Direct Oral Anticoagulants for Secondary Stroke Prevention in the First Year after Their Marketing in Europe – A Multicentric Evaluation

Introduction: Aspirin is one of the most commonly used medications for cardiovascular disease and stroke prevention. Many older patients who present with a first or recurrent stroke are already on aspirin monotherapy, yet little evidence is available to guide antithrombotic strategies for these patients. Method: Using data from the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Registry, we described discharge antithrombotic treatment pattern among Medicare beneficiaries without atrial fibrillation who were discharged alive for acute ischemic stroke from 1734 hospitals in the United States between October 2012 and December 2017. Results: Of 261,634 ischemic stroke survivors, 100,016 (38.2%) were on prior aspirin monotherapy (median age 78 years; 53% women; 79.4% initial stroke and 20.6% recurrent stroke). The most common discharge antithrombotics (Figure) were 81 mg aspirin monotherapy (20.9%), 325 mg aspirin monotherapy (18.2%), clopidogrel monotherapy (17.8%), and dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) of 81 mg aspirin and clopidogrel (17.1%). Combined, aspirin monotherapy, clopidogrel monotherapy, and DAPT accounted for 86.8% of discharge antithrombotics. The rest of 13.2% were discharged on either aspirin/dipyridamole, warfarin or non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants with or without antiplatelet, or no antithrombotics at all. Among patients with documented stroke etiology (TOAST criteria), 81 mg aspirin monotherapy (21.2-24.0%) was the most commonly prescribed antithrombotic for secondary stroke prevention. The only exception was those with large-artery atherosclerosis, in which, 25.3% received DAPT of 81 mg aspirin and clopidogrel at discharge. Conclusion: Substantial variations exist in discharge antithrombotic therapy for secondary stroke prevention in ischemic stroke with prior aspirin failure. Future research is needed to identify best management strategies to care for this complex but common clinical scenario.

Download Full-text

Optimal Anticoagulation Strategy for Cardioversion in Atrial Fibrillation

Arrhythmia & Electrophysiology Review ◽

10.15420/aer.2015.4.1.44 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 44 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Philipp Bushoven ◽

Sven Linzbach ◽

Mate Vamos ◽

Stefan H Hohnloser ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Vitamin K ◽

Stroke Prevention ◽

Vitamin K Antagonists ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Prospective Trial ◽

Bleeding Complications ◽

Order Of Magnitude ◽

Pharmacological Cardioversion

For many patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation, cardioversion is performed to restore sinus rhythm and relieve symptoms. Cardioversion carries a distinct risk for thromboembolism which has been described to be in the order of magnitude of 1 to 3 %. For almost five decades, vitamin K antagonist therapy has been the mainstay of therapy to prevent thromboembolism around the time of cardioversion although not a single prospective trial has formally established its efficacy and safety. Currently, three new direct oral anticoagulants are approved for stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. For all three, there are data regarding its usefulness during the time of electrical or pharmacological cardioversion. Due to the ease of handling, their efficacy regarding stroke prevention, and their safety with respect to bleeding complications, the new direct oral anticoagulants are endorsed as the preferred therapy over vitamin K antagonists for stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation including the clinical setting of elective cardioversion.

Download Full-text

How to Monitor Patients Receiving Direct Oral Anticoagulants for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation: A Practice Tool Endorsed by Thrombosis Canada, the Canadian Stroke Consortium, the Canadian Cardiovascular Pharmacists Network, and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society

Annals of Internal Medicine ◽

10.7326/m15-0143 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 163 (5) ◽

pp. 382 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

David J. Gladstone ◽

William H. Geerts ◽

James Douketis ◽

Noah Ivers ◽

Jeff S. Healey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Stroke Prevention ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Canadian Cardiovascular Society

Download Full-text

Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circulationaha.120.049768 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 142 (24) ◽

pp. 2371-2388

Author(s):

Aristeidis H Katsanos ◽

Hooman Kamel ◽

Jeff S. Healey ◽

Robert G. Hart

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Clinical Trials ◽

High Risk ◽

Vitamin K ◽

Stroke Prevention ◽

Oral Anticoagulant ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Vitamin K Antagonist ◽

Bleeding Complications ◽

Secondary Stroke Prevention

Ischemic strokes related to atrial fibrillation are highly prevalent, presenting with severe neurologic syndromes and associated with high risk of recurrence. Although advances have been made in both primary and secondary stroke prevention for patients with atrial fibrillation, the long-term risks for stroke recurrence and bleeding complications from antithrombotic treatment remain substantial. We summarize the major advances in stroke prevention for patients with atrial fibrillation during the past 30 years and focus on novel diagnostic and treatment approaches currently under investigation in ongoing clinical trials. Non–vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants have been proven to be safer and equally effective compared with warfarin in stroke prevention for patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Non–vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants are being investigated for the treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation and rheumatic heart disease, for the treatment of patients with recent embolic stroke of undetermined source and indirect evidence of cardiac embolism, and in the prevention of vascular-mediated cognitive decline in patients with atrial fibrillation. Multiple clinical trials are assessing the optimal timing of non–vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant initiation after a recent ischemic stroke and the benefit:harm ratio of non–vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation and history of previous intracranial bleeding. Ongoing trials are addressing the usefulness of left atrial appendage occlusion in both primary and secondary stroke prevention for patients with atrial fibrillation, including those with high risk of bleeding. The additive value of prolonged cardiac monitoring for subclinical atrial fibrillation detection through smartphone applications or implantable cardiac devices, together with the optimal medical management of individuals with covert paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, is a topic of intensive research interest. Colchicine treatment and factor XIa inhibition constitute 2 novel pharmacologic approaches that might provide future treatment options in the secondary prevention of cardioembolic stroke attributable to atrial fibrillation.

Download Full-text