scholarly journals Net clinical benefit of anticoagulation therapy in the elderly patients with atrial fibrillation

2018 ◽  
Vol 88 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Palleschi ◽  
Eleonora Nunziata
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Vitamin K ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Vitamin K Antagonists ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Anticoagulation Therapy ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Thromboembolic Disease ◽  
Net Clinical Benefit

Old age remains one of the strongest risk factors for stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Oral anticoagulation (OAC) is the most effective way to prevent thromboembolic disease in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Until few years ago, aspirin and vitamin-K antagonists (VKAs) were the primary agents used to prevent thromboembolic disease in patients with AF. The approval of non–vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) has now expanded the range of therapeutic agents available to providers. The authors highlight practical considerations regarding the selection and use of OAC in older adults to aid clinical decision making.

scholarly journals Anticoagulation therapy in the elderly with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: a double-edged sword

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Vetta ◽  
Gabriella Locorotondo ◽  
Giampaolo Vetta
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Anticoagulant Therapy ◽  
Vitamin K ◽  
Vitamin K Antagonists ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Anticoagulation Therapy ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Hemorrhagic Events

Prevalence of non-valvular atrial fibrillation is increasing over time. Particularly in elderly population, treatment strategies to reduce the rate of stroke are challenging and still represent an unsolved cultural question. Indeed, the risk of thromboembolism increases in the elderly in parallel with the risk of bleeding. The frequent coexistence of several morbidities, frailty syndrome, polypharmacy, chronic kidney disease and dementia strengthens the perception that risk-benefit ratio of anticoagulant therapy could be unfavorable, and explains why such treatment is underused in the elderly. Recently, the introduction of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) has allowed us to overcome the large number of limitations imposed by the use of vitamin K antagonists. In this manuscript, the benefits of individual NOACs in comparison with warfarin in elderly patients are reviewed. Targeted studies on complex elderly patients are needed to test usefulness of a geriatric comprehensive assessment, besides the scores addressing risk of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic events. In the meantime, it is mandatory that use of anticoagulant therapy in most elderly people, currently excluded from randomized controlled trials, is prudent and responsible.

scholarly journals Anticoagulation in Atrial Fibrillation Cardioversion: What Is Crucial to Take into Account

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (15) ◽  
pp. 3212
Author(s):  
Fabiana Lucà ◽  
Simona Giubilato ◽  
Stefania Angela Di Fusco ◽  
Laura Piccioni ◽  
Carmelo Massimiliano Rao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Vitamin K ◽  
Thrombus Formation ◽  
Vitamin K Antagonists ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Anticoagulation Therapy ◽  
Significant Advance ◽  
Thromboembolic Events ◽  
Thromboembolic Risk ◽  
Pharmacological Cardioversion

The therapeutic dilemma between rhythm and rate control in the management of atrial fibrillation (AF) is still unresolved and electrical or pharmacological cardioversion (CV) frequently represents a useful strategy. The most recent guidelines recommend anticoagulation according to individual thromboembolic risk. Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) have been routinely used to prevent thromboembolic events. Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) represent a significant advance due to their more predictable therapeutic effect and more favorable hemorrhagic risk profile. In hemodynamically unstable patients, an emergency electrical cardioversion (ECV) must be performed. In this situation, intravenous heparin or low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) should be administered before CV. In patients with AF occurring within less than 48 h, synchronized direct ECV should be the elective procedure, as it restores sinus rhythm quicker and more successfully than pharmacological cardioversion (PCV) and is associated with shorter length of hospitalization. Patients with acute onset AF were traditionally considered at lower risk of thromboembolic events due to the shorter time for atrial thrombus formation. In patients with hemodynamic stability and AF for more than 48 h, an ECV should be planned after at least 3 weeks of anticoagulation therapy. Alternatively, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to rule out left atrial appendage thrombus (LAAT) should be performed, followed by ECV and anticoagulation for at least 4 weeks. Theoretically, the standardized use of TEE before CV allows a better stratification of thromboembolic risk, although data available to date are not univocal.

scholarly journals 2021 Korean Heart Rhythm Society Guidelines for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation

2021 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 296-311
Author(s):  
Ki Hong Lee ◽  
Jin-Bae Kim ◽  
Seung Yong Shin ◽  
Boyoung Joung
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Vitamin K ◽  
Stroke Prevention ◽  
Vitamin K Antagonists ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Anticoagulation Therapy ◽  
Optimal Strategies ◽  
Mechanical Valve ◽  
Heart Rhythm ◽  
Bleeding Risk

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a strong risk factor for ischemic stroke and systemic embolism. To prevent thromboembolic events in patients with AF, anticoagulation therapy is essential. The anticoagulant strategy is determined after stroke and bleeding risk assessments using the CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores, respectively; both consider clinical risk factors. Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) are the sole anticoagulant option in AF patients with a prosthetic mechanical valve or moderate-severe mitral stenosis; in all other AF patients VKA or non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants are therapeutic options. However, antiplatelet therapy should not be used for stroke prevention in AF patients. Anticoagulation is not needed in AF patients with low stroke risk but strongly recommended in those with a with low bleeding risk. Left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion offers an alternative in AF patients in whom long-term anticoagulation is contraindicated. Surgical occlusion or the exclusion of LAA can be considered for stroke prevention in AF patients undergoing cardiac surgery. In this article, we review existing data for stroke prevention and suggest optimal strategies to prevent stroke in AF patients.

Atrial Fibrillation and Malignancy: The Clinical Performance of Non–Vitamin K Oral Anticoagulants—A Systematic Review

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (02) ◽  
pp. 205-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Bottino ◽  
Anna Rago ◽  
Pierpaolo Micco ◽  
Antonio D' Onofrio ◽  
Biagio Liccardo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Vitamin K ◽  
Clinical Performance ◽  
Vitamin K Antagonists ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Anticoagulation Therapy ◽  
Therapeutic Anticoagulation ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Active Cancer

AbstractAtrial fibrillation (AF) is commonly diagnosed in the setting of active cancer. Because of an increased risk of either thromboembolic events or bleeding, the decision to initiate therapeutic anticoagulation in patients with active cancer can be challenging. Moreover, little is still known about the optimal anticoagulation therapy in the setting of AF and cancer, and no guidelines are as yet available. Considering that nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are recommended as alternatives to vitamin K antagonists for stroke prevention in AF patients with CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥2, the authors performed a systematic review of the current literature to describe the efficacy and safety of NOACs in AF patients with malignancy.

Review of the Target-Specific Oral Anticoagulants in Development for the Treatment and Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 392-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandeep Devabhakthuni ◽  
Connie H. Yoon ◽  
Kathleen J. Pincus
Keyword(s):  
Venous Thromboembolism ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Vitamin K Antagonists ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Anticoagulation Therapy ◽  
Bleeding Risk ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Thrombin Inhibitors ◽  
Direct Thrombin Inhibitors ◽  
Treatment And Prevention

Anticoagulation therapy is often indicated for the treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Despite advances in anticoagulant management with parenteral anticoagulants and vitamin K antagonists, limitations to their use still exists, leading to investigation of alternative anticoagulants such as factor Xa inhibitors and direct thrombin inhibitors. To date, 3 target-specific oral anticoagulants (TSOACs) are Food and Drug Administration approved; several other agents are currently in development to optimize VTE management and minimize bleeding risks. The objective of this systematic review article is to provide clinicians an overview of the clinical evidence on the investigational TSOACs for the treatment and prevention of VTE. Of the agents in development, edoxaban holds the most promise due to robust data supporting its clinical benefit with a similar bleeding risk to currently approved agents. Clinicians should understand the TSOACs under investigation, since differences in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics may influence clinical decision making and agent selection for management of VTE. Currently, no direct comparisons between TSOACs have been conducted. Agents under investigation have yet to overcome the major limitations of the currently existing TSOACs. Further studies are necessary to clarify which TSOAC agent is best for management of VTE in clinical practice.

Voorkamerfibrillatie en niet-vitamine K-antagonist orale anticoagulantia: van klinische studies tot gebruik in de dagelijkse praktijk

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. CAPIAU ◽  
M. GRYMONPREZ ◽  
T. DE BACKER ◽  
S. GEVAERT ◽  
K. BOUSSERY ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Vitamin K ◽  
Vitamin K Antagonists ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Anticoagulation Therapy ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Vitamin K Antagonist ◽  
Fixed Dose ◽  
Stroke Risk Factor

Atrial fibrillation and non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants: from clinical trials to real-world clinical practice. For decades, vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) were the only oral anticoagulants available for the prevention of thromboembolism in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Since 2012, non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are available for this indication, which have proven to be at least as effective and safe as VKAs in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). NOACs have additional benefits, such as a fast onset of action, a fixed-dose regimen without requiring regular monitoring, less interactions and less intracranial bleeding. Their emergence has caused a paradigm shift in anticoagulation therapy, with NOACs being the anticoagulant of choice compared to VKAs. Since strict in- and exclusion criteria were used in the pivotal RCTs, concerns have risen regarding the generalizability of these results to real-life clinical practice in patients with multiple comorbidities. In this manuscript, this extrapolation is discussed, focusing on 4 different topics regarding appropriate NOAC use: the management of AF patients with a single stroke risk factor, the importance of an optimal therapy adherence, potential drug-drug interactions with NOACs and addressing a geriatric AF patient after a fall. Hopefully, this manuscript will help guide clinicians in the optimal use of NOACs in their daily clinical practice.

Safety and Efficacy of Oral Anticoagulants Therapies in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Network Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 399-408
Author(s):  
Felipe F. Mainka ◽  
Vinicius L. Ferreira ◽  
Antonio M. Mendes ◽  
Gustavo L. Marques ◽  
Fernando Fernandez-Llimos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ◽  
Vitamin K ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Vitamin K Antagonists ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Coronary Intervention ◽  
P2y12 Inhibitor ◽  
Percutaneous Coronary

Background: Different antithrombotic treatments, from vitamin K antagonists to direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), are available to reduce ischemic risks in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Objective: To synthetize evidence about the benefit–risk ratio of antithrombotic treatments and their combinations in patients with AF and PCI. Methods: A network meta-analysis and a stochastic multicriteria acceptability analysis (SMAA) were performed including randomized controlled trials (RCT) that evaluate antithrombotic treatments in adults with AF and PCI. Searches were conducted in PubMed and Scopus (updated November-2019). Outcomes compared included bleeding, stroke, and death (Prospero registration: CRD42019146813). Results: Five RCTs were included (11 532 patients). Vitamin K antagonists + dual antiplatelet therapy was associated with major bleeding (odds ratio: 0.52 [95% CI: 0.32-0.86]) compared to DOAC + P2Y12. No statistical differences were found among DOAC regimens for the main outcomes, including bleeding, stroke, and death. Surface under the cumulative ranking curve analysis (SUCRA) and SMAA demonstrated edoxaban 60 mg + P2Y12 inhibitor as the worst option (28%). Apixaban 5 mg + P2Y12 inhibitor was the safest alternative (63%) in all scenarios. Conclusions: Insufficient evidence on the clinical superiority among anticoagulant regimens exists, although apixaban slightly stands out. Edoxaban was associated with more adverse events. To strength this evidence, well-designed, low risk of bias clinical trials are needed. Cost-minimization analyses are required to provide further information for clinical decision-making.

scholarly journals Failure of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in preventing stroke in elderly patient: a case report of multiple strokes on standard of care treatment for atrial fibrillation

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Frank Bernard Ebai ◽  
Azam Mohiuddin
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Vitamin K ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Anticoagulation Therapy ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Vitamin K Antagonist ◽  
Heart Arrhythmia ◽  
Standard Of Care Treatment

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of treated heart arrhythmia. Generally, the treatment goals for atrial fibrillation are to reset the rhythm or control the rate and prevent the development and subsequent embolization of atrial thrombi. These thromboembolic events can occur with any kind of atrial fibrillation that is paroxysmal, persistent or permanent. In patients who are candidate for anticoagulation therapy, major practice guideline provides vitamin K antagonist (VKA) oral anticoagulant and non-VKA oral anticoagulants as treatment options. The risk of AF increases with age and despite treatment on standard of care anticoagulation therapy, recrudescent cardioembolic events may still arise especially in the elderly as we will see in this case.

scholarly journals Stroke-prevenció időskorban: az edoxabán hatékonysága és biztonságossága idős betegekben az ENGAGE AF vizsgálat eredményei alapján

2018 ◽  
Vol 159 (20) ◽  
pp. 798-802
Author(s):  
László Márk
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Vitamin K Antagonists ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Factor Xa ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Thromboembolic Events ◽  
Systemic Embolization ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Net Clinical Benefit

Abstract: Atrial fibrillation is the most common clinically relevant arrhythmia frequently causing systemic thromboembolic events. Traditionally vitamin K antagonists had been used for decades to prevent these events. The emerging of the new direct anticoagulants has revolutionized this treatment and a gradual growth and extensive spread of usage is expected. The latest one approved in Hungary, edoxaban, is a factor Xa inhibitor. Once-daily administration and favourable safety profile are major benefits of this drug. In a large clinical study with a high number of patients it proved to be at least as effective as warfarin in the prevention of stroke and systemic embolization while causing significantly less major bleedings. As the incidence of atrial fibrillation increases with age, the observation that, compared with the other direct oral anticoagulants, the administration of edoxaban in the elderly has a favourable net clinical benefit (in the rate of prevented thromboembolic events and the number of caused bleedings) may have a great importance. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(20): 798–802.

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