scholarly journals Effectiveness and safety of apixaban versus warfarin in non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients in “real-world” clinical practice

2017 ◽  
Vol 117 (06) ◽  
pp. 1072-1082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyan Li ◽  
Steve Deitelzweig ◽  
Allison Keshishian ◽  
Melissa Hamilton ◽  
Ruslan Horblyuk ◽  
...  

SummaryThe ARISTOTLE trial showed a risk reduction of stroke/systemic embolism (SE) and major bleeding in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients treated with apixaban compared to warfarin. This retrospective study used four large US claims databases (MarketScan, PharMetrics, Optum, and Humana) of NVAF patients newly initiating apixaban or warfarin from January 1, 2013 to September 30, 2015. After 1:1 warfarin-apixaban propensity score matching (PSM) within each database, the resulting patient records were pooled. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the cumulative incidence and hazard ratios (HRs) of stroke/SE and major bleeding (identified using the first listed diagnosis of inpatient claims) within one year of therapy initiation. The study included a total of 76,940 (38,470 warfarin and 38,470 apixaban) patients. Among the 38,470 matched pairs, 14,563 were from MarketScan, 7,683 were from PharMetrics, 7,894 were from Optum, and 8,330 were from Humana. Baseline characteristics were balanced between the two cohorts with a mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 71 (12) years and a mean (SD) CHA2DS2-VASc score of 3.2 (1.7). Apixaban initiators had a significantly lower risk of stroke/SE (HR: 0.67, 95 % CI: 0.59–0.76) and major bleeding (HR: 0.60, 95 % CI: 0.54–0.65) than warfarin initiators. Different types of stroke/SE and major bleeding – including ischaemic stroke, haemorrhagic stroke, SE, intracranial haemorrhage, gastrointestinal bleeding, and other major bleeding – were all significantly lower for apixaban compared to warfarin treatment. Subgroup analyses (apixaban dosage, age strata, CHA2DS2-VASc or HAS-BLED score strata, or dataset source) all show consistently lower risks of stroke/SE and major bleeding associated with apixaban as compared to warfarin treatment. This is the largest “real-world” study on apixaban effectiveness and safety to date, showing that apixaban initiation was associated with significant risk reductions in stroke/SE and major bleeding compared to warfarin initiation after PSM. These benefits were consistent across various high-risk subgroups and both the standard-and low-dose apixaban dose regimens.Note: The review process for this manuscript was fully handled by Christian Weber, Editor in Chief.Supplementary Material to this article is available online at www.thrombosis-online.com.

Circulation ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 133 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Faye L Norby ◽  
Lindsay G Bengtson ◽  
Lin Y Chen ◽  
Richard F MacLehose ◽  
Pamela L Lutsey ◽  
...  

Background: Rivaroxaban is a novel oral anticoagulant approved in the US in 2011 for prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Information on risks and benefits among rivaroxaban users in real-world populations is limited. Methods: We used data from the US MarketScan Commercial and Medicare Supplemental databases between 2010 and 2013. We selected patients with a history of NVAF and initiating rivaroxaban or warfarin. Rivaroxaban users were matched with up to 5 warfarin users by age, sex, database enrollment date and drug initiation date. Ischemic stroke, intracranial bleeding (ICB), myocardial infarction (MI), and gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding outcomes were defined by ICD-9-CM codes in an inpatient claim after drug initiation date. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association between rivaroxaban vs. warfarin use and outcomes adjusting for age, sex, and CHA2DS2-VASc score. Separate models were used to compare a) new rivaroxaban users with new warfarin users, and b) switchers from warfarin to rivaroxaban to continuous warfarin users. Results: Our analysis included 34,998 rivaroxaban users matched to 102,480 warfarin users with NVAF (39% female, mean age 71), in which 487 ischemic strokes, 179 ICB, 647 MI, and 1353 GI bleeds were identified during a mean follow-up of 9 months. Associations of rivaroxaban vs warfarin were similar in new users and switchers; therefore we pooled both analyses. Rivaroxaban users had lower rates of ICB (hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval (CI)) = 0.72 (0.46, 1.12))) and ischemic stroke (HR (95% CI) = 0.88 (0.68, 1.13)), but higher rates of GI bleeding (HR (95% CI) = 1.15 (1.01, 1.33)) when compared to warfarin users (table). Conclusion: In this large population-based study of NVAF patients, rivaroxaban users had a non-significant lower risk of ICB and ischemic stroke than warfarin users, but a higher risk of GI bleeding. These real-world findings are comparable to results reported in published clinical trials.


Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenjiro Ishigami ◽  
Syuhei Ikeda ◽  
KOSUKE DOI ◽  
Yasuhiro Hamatani ◽  
Akiko Fujino ◽  
...  

Introduction: Anemia has been reported to be associated with poor prognosis in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Concomitant thrombocytopenia (TP) may or may not affect the prescription of antithrombotic drugs and clinical outcomes in these patients. Methods: The Fushimi AF Registry is a community-based prospective survey of AF patients in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto. We defined TP as platelet counts less than 150,000/μL and anemia as hemoglobin less than 11 g/dL. Among 666 patients with anemia, we compared the clinical backgrounds and outcomes of those with TP (n=183) and those without (n=483). Results: Compared with patients without TP, patients with TP were more likely to have chronic kidney disease (75.4% vs. 61.8%, p=0.001), and less likely to have hypertension (58.5% vs. 67.0%, p=0.0393), and less likely to have dyslipidemia (27.3% vs. 38.3%, p=0.0079). Age, sex, body weight, CHADS 2 score, CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score, HAS-BLED score, and previous major bleeding were comparable between the groups. Furthermore, prescription of anti-thrombotic drugs was comparable (Figure A). On Kaplan-Meier analysis, the incidence of all-cause death was higher in TP group (hazard ratio [HR] 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20-1.91, p<0.05) (Figure B-1). There was no significant difference in other adverse events between patients with and without TP (major bleeding: HR 1.11; 95% CI 0.41-3.31, p=0.8, hospitalization for heart failure: HR 1.11; 95% CI 0.74-1.61, p= 0.61 and stroke or systemic embolism: HR 0.91; 95% CI 0.43-1.78, p=0.80) (Figure B-2, 3, 4). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis adjusting for potential confounders revealed that TP was an independent determinant of all-cause death (adjusted HR: 1.41, 95% CI; 1.11-1.78, p=0.006). Conclusions: Concomitant TP in AF patients with anemia did not affect the prescription of antithrombotic drugs, and was independently associated with all-cause death in the Fushimi AF Registry.


2016 ◽  
Vol 116 (11) ◽  
pp. 975-986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison Keshishian ◽  
Shital Kamble ◽  
Xianying Pan ◽  
Jack Mardekian ◽  
Ruslan Horblyuk ◽  
...  

SummaryIn addition to warfarin, there are four non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) available for stroke prevention in non valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). There are limited data on the comparative risks of major bleeding among newly anticoagulated NVAF patients who initiate warfarin, apixaban, dabigatran, or rivaroxaban, when used in ‘real world’ clinical practice. The study used the Truven MarketScan® Commercial & Medicare supplemental US claims database. NVAF patients aged ≥18 years newly prescribed an oral anticoagulant 01JAN2013–31DEC2014, with a ≥1-year baseline period, were included (study period: 01JAN2012–31DEC2014). Major bleeding was defined as bleeding requiring hospitalisation. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance age, sex, region, baseline comorbidities, and comedications. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the PSM hazard ratio (HR) of major bleeding. Among 45,361 newly anticoagulated NVAF patients, 15,461 (34.1 %) initiated warfarin, 7,438 (16.4 %) initiated apixaban, 17,801 (39.2 %) initiated rivaroxaban, and 4,661 (10.3 %) initiated dabigatran. Compared to matched warfarin initiators, apixaban (HR: 0.53; 95 % CI: 0.39–0.71) and dabigatran (HR: 0.69; 95 % CI: 0.50–0.96) initiators had a significantly lower risk of major bleeding. Patients initiating rivaroxaban (HR: 0.98; 95 % CI: 0.83–1.17) had a non-significant difference in major bleeding risk compared to matched warfarin patients. When comparisons were made between NOACs, matched rivaroxaban patients had a significantly higher risk of major bleeding (HR: 1.82; 95 % CI: 1.36–2.43) compared to apixaban patients. The differences for apixaban-dabigatran and dabigatran-rivaroxaban matched cohorts were not statistically significant. Among newly anticoagulated NVAF patients in the real-world setting, apixaban and dabigatran initiation was associated with significantly lower risk of major bleeding compared to warfarin initiation. When compared to apixaban, rivaroxaban initiation was associated with significantly higher risk of major bleeding.Note: The review process for this paper was fully handled by Christian Weber, Editor in Chief.Supplementary Material to this article is available online at www.thrombosis-online.com.


Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Usha B Tedrow ◽  
David Conen ◽  
Bruce A Koplan ◽  
JoAnn E Manson ◽  
Julie E Buring ◽  
...  

Obesity and atrial fibrillation (AF) are increasing public health problems, especially among women. Overweight and obesity (as defined by WHO criteria) have been previously associated with incident AF in existing cohorts; however, relatively few women with AF were included. We sought to further characterize the risk of incident AF over the entire range of body mass index (BMI) in a large prospective cohort of women enrolled in the Women’s Health Study. Women included in this analysis provided information on BMI and were free of cardiovascular disease and AF at baseline. Among the 38,807 women, 1022 incident AF cases were reported (9.8 +/− 1.2 person-years of AF). Compared with women not reporting AF, those who developed AF were older (58.8 +/− 8.0 vs 54.4 +/− 6.9 years), had higher BMI (27.2 +/− 5.7 vs 26.0 +/−5.0 kg/m2), and were more often diabetic (4.3% vs 2.5%), hypertensive (41.5% vs 2.5%), and hyperlipidemic (35.4% vs 29.1%), p < 0.0001 for each comparison. Continuous BMI was associated with AF in age-adjusted (HR 1.05; 95%CI, 1.04 –1.06) and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models controlling for age, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking, and physical activity (HR = 1.04; 95%CI, 1.03–1.05, p < 0.0001). When BMI was divided into 7 pre-specified categories, risk of AF was significantly increased among those with a BMI > 30 (see graph). Compared with women with BMI < 21, women with BMI > 35 were at 1.90-fold (95%CI, 1.42–2.55) increased risk of AF even after controlling for the listed obesity-associated comorbidities. Conclusion: These prospective data suggest a nonlinear relationship between BMI and risk of AF, with significant risk above a BMI threshold of 30 kg/m2.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Borja Hernández-Breijo ◽  
Claudia M. Brenis ◽  
Chamaida Plasencia-Rodríguez ◽  
Ana Martínez-Feito ◽  
Marta Novella-Navarro ◽  
...  

Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) are widely used for the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), however a considerable percentage of patients discontinued the therapy. The aim of this study is to explore real-world TNFi survival, stratified for seropositivity, and to determine the factors that may influence it. This is a retrospective, observational and longitudinal study, using real-world data of patients, who started their first TNFi therapy between 1999 and 2018 from the RA-PAZ cohort. Patients were considered seropositive if they showed positive serum levels of either RF, ACPA, or both. Treatment survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves, and Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare the risks of TNFi discontinuation for seronegative and seropositive patients. Of the included 250 patients, 213 (85%) were seropositive. Results showed that TNFi survival did not depend on seropositivity status. However, median survival time was significant longer for seropositive patients who received concomitant MTX compared to patients who did not receive it (median [95% CI]: 3.3 yr. [2.3–4.2] vs. 2.6 yr. [1.7–3.6], respectively; p = 0.008). Furthermore, seropositive patients who received concomitant MTX were 49% less likely to discontinue TNFi therapy than patients who did not receive it (HR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.35–0.74). In addition, we found that in seropositive patients, the use of prednisone throughout the TNFi treatment was associated with a higher likelihood of therapy discontinuation (OR: 2.30; 95% CI: 1.01–5.23). In conclusion, these data provide evidence to support the use of concomitant MTX in seropositive patients to prolong the effectiveness and the survival of the TNFi therapy. Moreover, the co-administration of prednisone in seropositive patients receiving TNFi was highly associated with TNFi discontinuation.


Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Deitelzweig ◽  
Amanda Bruno ◽  
Natalie Tate ◽  
Augustina Ogbonnaya ◽  
Manan Shah ◽  
...  

Real-world evidence highlighting the risks and benefits of novel oral anticoagulants (NOCAs) is lacking. This study compared major and clinically relevant non-major (CRNM) bleeding risk and costs among non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients newly treated with apixaban, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, or warfarin. A retrospective analysis of NVAF patients newly treated with apixaban, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, or warfarin was conducted using PharMetrics Plus data from 1/ 2012 - 9/ 2014. Patients were indexed on the date of the first anticoagulant prescription, and were required to be ≥18 years old and have CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score > 0 and ≥ 1 month of follow-up. Patients were followed until discontinuation (≥30-day gap in treatment), treatment switch, end of continuous enrollment, 1 year post-index, or end of study. Major and CRNM bleeding, and bleeding-related costs were measured. Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the association between anticoagulants and risk of bleeding and GLM was used to evaluate bleeding-related costs. The study included 24,573 NVAF patients; distributed as apixaban 11.7%, dabigatran 12.0%, rivaroxaban 36.7%, and warfarin 39.6%. Mean age was 64.4 and 66.5% were males. HAS-BLED and CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc scores averaged 2.0 and 2.7, respectively. After adjusting for differences in baseline characteristics, when compared to apixaban patients, rivaroxaban (HR: 1.5; P =0.0013) and warfarin (HR: 1.7; P <0.0001) patients were more likely to have major bleeding, and dabigatran (HR: 1.3; P =0.0030), rivaroxaban (HR: 1.7; P <0.0001), and warfarin (HR: 1.4; P <0.0001) patients were more likely to have CRNM bleeding. Major bleeding risk was similar between apixaban and dabigatran patients. Major and CRNM bleeding costs, when compared to apixaban patients ($154 and $18), were significantly higher for dabigatran ($457; P <0.0001 and $39; P <0.0001), rivaroxaban ($420; P <0.0001 and $61; P <0.0001), and warfarin ($511; P <0.0001 and $63; P <0.0001) patients. Among anticoagulant-naive moderate-to-high risk NVAF patients encountered in real-world clinical setting, major bleeding was lower with apixaban compared to warfarin and rivaroxaban. Bleeding costs were lower with apixaban compared to alternative NOACs and warfarin.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Yanhua Yang ◽  
Suxia Guo ◽  
Ziyao Huang ◽  
Chunhua Deng ◽  
Lihua Chen ◽  
...  

Background. There are no proven effective treatments that can reduce the mortality in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), probably due to its heterogeneous nature which will weaken the effect of therapy in clinical studies. We evaluated the effect of beta-blocker treatment in HFpEF patients associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), which is a homogeneous syndrome and has seldom been discussed. Methods. This retrospective cohort study screened 955 patients diagnosed with AF and HFpEF. Patients with a range of underlying heart diseases or severe comorbidities were excluded; 191 patients were included and classified as with or without beta-blocker treatment at baseline. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality and rehospitalization due to heart failure. Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariable Cox proportional-hazards models were used to evaluate the differences in outcomes. Results. The mean follow-up was 49 months. After adjustment for multiple clinical risk factors and biomarkers for prognosis in heart failure, patients with beta-blocker treatment were associated with significantly lower all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.405, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.233–0.701, p=0.001) compared with those without beta-blocker treatment. However, the risk of rehospitalization due to heart failure was increased in the beta-blocker treatment group (HR = 1.740, 95% CI = 1.085–2.789, p=0.022). There was no significant difference in all-cause rehospitalization between the two groups (HR = 1.137, 95% CI = 0.803–1.610, p=0.470). Conclusions. In HFpEF patients associated with AF, beta-blocker treatment is associated with significantly lower all-cause mortality, but it increased the risk of rehospitalization due to heart failure.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 175628482199735
Author(s):  
Steven Deitelzweig ◽  
Allison Keshishian ◽  
Amiee Kang ◽  
Amol D. Dhamane ◽  
Xuemei Luo ◽  
...  

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is the most common type of major bleeding associated with oral anticoagulant (OAC) treatment. Patients with major bleeding are at an increased risk of a stroke if an OAC is not reinitiated. Methods: Non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients initiating OACs were identified from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ( CMS) Medicare data and four US commercial claims databases. Patients who had a major GI bleeding event (hospitalization with primary diagnosis of GI bleeding) while on an OAC were selected. A control cohort of patients without a major GI bleed during OAC treatment was matched to major GI bleeding patients using propensity scores. Stroke/systemic embolism (SE), major bleeding, and mortality (in the CMS population) were examined using Cox proportional hazards models with robust sandwich estimates. Results: A total of 15,888 patients with major GI bleeding and 833,052 patients without major GI bleeding were included in the study. Within 90 days of the major GI bleed, 58% of patients discontinued the initial OAC treatment. Patients with a major GI bleed had a higher risk of stroke/SE [hazard ratio (HR): 1.57, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.42–1.74], major bleeding (HR: 2.79, 95% CI: 2.64–2.95), and all-cause mortality (HR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.23–1.36) than patients without a major GI bleed. Conclusion: Patients with a major GI bleed on OAC had a high rate of OAC discontinuation and significantly higher risk of stroke/SE, major bleeding, and mortality after hospital discharge than those without. Effective management strategies are needed for patients with risk factors for major GI bleeding.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Kochav ◽  
R.C Chen ◽  
J.M.D Dizon ◽  
J.A.R Reiffel

Abstract Background Theoretical concern exists regarding AV block (AVB) with class I antiarrhythmics (AADs) when bundle branch block (BBB) is present. Whether this is substantiated in real-world populations is unknown. Purpose To determine the relationship between type of AAD and incidence of AVB in patients with preexisting BBB. Methods We retrospectively studied all patients with BBB who received class I and III AADs between 1997–2019 to compare incidence of AVB. We defined index time as first exposure to either drug class and excluded patients with prior AVB or exposed to both classes. Time-at-risk window ended at first outcome occurrence or when patients were no longer observed in the database. We estimated hazard ratios for incident AVB using Cox proportional hazards models with propensity score stratification, adjusting for over 32,000 covariates from the electronic health record. Kaplan-Meier methods were used to determine treatment effects over time. Results Of 40,120 individuals with BBB, 148 were exposed to a class I AAD and 2401 to a class III AAD. Over nearly 4,200 person-years of follow up, there were 22 and 620 outcome events in the class I and class III cohorts, respectively (Figure). In adjusted analyses, AVB risk was markedly lower in patients exposed to class I AADs compared with class III (HR 0.48 [95% CI 0.30–0.75]). Conclusion Among patients with BBB, exposure to class III AADs was strongly associated with greater risk of incident AVB. This likely reflects differences in natural history of patients receiving class I vs class III AADs rather than adverse class III effects, however, the lack of worse outcomes acutely with class I AADs suggests that they may be safer in BBB than suspected. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raffaele De Caterina ◽  
Ulrika Andersson ◽  
John H Alexander ◽  
M.Cecilia Bahit ◽  
Patrick J Commerford ◽  
...  

Background: History of bleeding is important in decisions for anticoagulation. We analyzed outcomes in relation to history of bleeding and randomized treatments in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in the ARISTOTLE trial. Methods: The on-treatment safety population included 18,140 patients receiving ≥1 dose of study drug, apixaban 5 mg bd (2.5 mg bd if 2 of the following: age >80 yrs; body weight <60 kg; or creatinine >133 μmol/L) or warfarin aiming for INR 2.0-3.0 (median TTR 66%), for a median of 1.8 yrs. Adjudicated outcomes in relation to randomization and history of bleeding were analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model. Efficacy endpoints were analyzed in the intention-to-treat population. Results: A history of bleeding was reported in 3033 patients (16.7%), who more often were male (68% vs 64%, p <0.0005); with a history of prior stroke/TIA/systemic embolism (23% vs 19%, p <0.0001); diabetes (27% vs 24%, p=0.0010); higher CHADS2 score (CHADS2 >3: 35% vs 29%), age (mean [SD] 71 [9] vs 69 [10], p <0001) and body weight (86 [21] vs 84 [21], p <0.0001); lower creatinine clearance (77 [33] vs 80 [33], p=0.0007) and mean systolic blood pressure (131 [17] vs 132 [16], p=0.0027). Calcium channel blockers, statins, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and proton pump inhibitors were used more often in patients with vs without a history of bleeding. Major bleeding was the only outcome event occurring more frequently in patients with vs without a history of bleeding, HR 1.7 (95% CI 1.4-2.3) with apixaban and 1.5 (1.2-1.0) with warfarin. Primary efficacy and safety outcomes in relation to randomization, see Table. Conclusions: In patients with AF, a history of bleeding was associated with several risk factors for stroke and bleeding and, accordingly, a higher bleeding risk during anticoagulation. Benefits with apixaban vs warfarin as to stroke, mortality and major bleeding, are however consistent irrespective of bleeding history.


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