LONDON, UK — Collectively, four new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) protect against stroke or systemic embolism better than warfarin and compare favorably on safety in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), concludes a meta-analysis[1] of four big randomized trials, all major showcases for the agents' potential value in AF.
"NOAC" in the current analysis meant four warfarin alternatives that are already available or seem headed for approval in AF: the direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran (Pradaxa, Boehringer Ingelheim) and factor Xa inhibitors rivaroxaban (Xarelto, Bayer Pharma/Janssen Pharmaceuticals), apixaban (Eliquis, Pfizer/Bristol-Myers Squibb), and edoxaban (Lixiana, Daiichi-Sankyo).
"Although the percent reductions and statistical significance of benefit of new oral anticoagulants vary somewhat from trial to trial, the results of the meta-analysis indicate that the benefit of these new agents in reducing stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, and mortality are quite similar," according to lead author Dr Christian T Ruff (Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA).
In their matches with warfarin, the new agents conferred significant reductions in risk of stroke or systemic embolism, intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), and all-cause mortality; their major bleed risk trended lower. In contrast, the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding was greater on the NOACs.
"Our data demonstrate that the relative benefit and safety is consistent across a wide range of subjects, including vulnerable populations such as the elderly, patients with a prior stroke, and those with renal dysfunction," Ruff said to heartwire in an email. Also, "we showed that the reduction in stroke and systemic embolism seen with the NOACs was not dependent on how well warfarin was managed. These agents are more effective than warfarin even in patients who have well-controlled INRs."
Anticoagulation effectiveness on warfarin did have an effect on NOAC safety outcomes, he noted. "There was even greater reduction in bleeding with the new oral anticoagulants compared with warfarin in patients who have difficulty maintaining a therapeutic INR."
Ruff et al's meta-analysis of the new agents' pivotal clinical trials, RE-LY , ROCKET AF , ARISTOTLE , and ENGAGE AF–TIMI 48, was published December 4, 2013 in the Lancet.
"Effective stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation with more than one stroke risk factor means oral anticoagulation, whether delivered by use of a novel oral anticoagulant or well-controlled vitamin-K antagonists [such as warfarin] with high time in therapeutic range," write Dr Torben Bjerregaard Larsen (Aalborg University, Denmark) and Dr Gregory YH Lip (University of Birmingham, UK) in an accompanying editorial[2].
"Previously," they continue, "the only available anticoagulant was a vitamin-K antagonist, but clinicians now have a choice and can fit the drug to the patient and vice versa. With the availability of four novel oral anticoagulants, perhaps we are now spoiled for choice."
To heartwire , Ruff said he agrees "that warfarin will remain a legitimate option for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation. There are many patients in whom warfarin remains the only option, such as those with a mechanical heart valve or end-stage renal disease. Warfarin performed very well in all of these trials and remains an effective and affordable anticoagulant."
Still, added meta-analysis coauthor Dr Robert P Giugliano (Brigham and Women's Hospital) by email, "for atrial fibrillation, the NOACs should be preferred over warfarin, as they are clearly superior at reducing a variety of bleeding complications (including fatal bleeding and intracranial bleeding), lower mortality by 10%, and are much easier to use: no need for routine monitoring, no food-drug interactions, far fewer drug-drug interactions, no 'off-target' side effects. In patients with atrial fibrillation, it is really just cost that is the major issue for the NOACs."
Gruff and Giugliano are lead authors on the ENGAGE AF–TIMI 48 primary publication[3].
For the meta-analysis, they and their colleagues looked only at phase 3 NOAC-warfarin comparisons that reported both efficacy and safety outcomes; the four trials that turned up encompassed 42 411 patients who received a NOAC and 29 272 warfarin recipients. The trials' median follow-ups ranged from 1.8 years to 2.8 years.
The risk of stroke or systemic embolic events, the primary outcome of the analysis, fell by 19% on NOACs compared with warfarin (p<0.0001). Hemorrhagic strokes accounted for much of the reduction (p<0.0001), while the risk of ischemic stroke wasn't affected by NOAC use vs warfarin.
Relative Risk (95% CI) for Efficacy and Safety Outcomes, New Oral Anticoagulants* vs Warfarin, in Meta-analysis
| End points | RR (95% CI) | p |
| Stroke or systemic embolic events | 0.81 (0.73–0.91) | <0.0001 |
| Hemorrhagic stroke | 0.49, 0.38–0.64 | <0.0001 |
| Intracranial hemorrhage | 0.48 (0.39–0.59) | <0.0001 |
| Ischemic stroke | 0.92 (0.83–1.02) | 0.10 |
| All-cause mortality | 0.90 (0.85–0.95) | 0.0003 |
| MI | 0.97 (0.78–1.20) | 0.77 |
| Major Bleeding | 0.86 (0.73–1.00) | 0.06 |
| Gastrointestinal bleeding | 1.25 (1.01–1.55) | 0.04 |
*Dabigatran 150 mg twice daily; rivaroxaban 20 mg once daily; apixaban 5 mg twice daily; edoxaban 60 mg once daily
No significant differences in NOAC effects were seen for stroke or systemic embolism or for major bleeding, by age, sex, history of stroke or transient ischemic attack, history of diabetes, renal function, CHADS2 score, or history of vitamin-K–antagonist therapy.
The stroke or systemic embolism risk didn't vary by each center's mean warfarin time in the therapeutic range. But when INR management on warfarin was subpar, NOACs were the most protective against major bleeding. That risk fell by 31% vs warfarin at centers where the mean warfarin time in the therapeutic range was <66%, but it dropped only 7% at centers where it was >66% (p=0.022 for interaction).
Ruff discloses consulting for and receiving honoraria from Daiichi Sankyo, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Giugliano discloses consulting for and receiving honoraria from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Janssen, Daiichi Sankyo, Merck, and Sanofi; and is a member of the TIMI Study Group, which has received research grant support from Daiichi Sankyo, Johnson & Johnson, and Merck. Larsen discloses being an investigator for Janssen Scientific Affairs and Boehringer Ingelheim and serving on a speaker's bureau for Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Takeda, Roche Diagnostics, and Boehringer Ingelheim. Lip discloses consulting for Bayer, Astellas, Merck, Sanofi, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer, Daiichi-Sankyo, Biotronik, Portola, and Boehringer Ingelheim and speaking for Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Daiichi-Sankyo, and Sanofi.
Heartwire from Medscape © 2013 Medscape, LLC
Cite this: 'New' Oral Anticoagulant Stroke-Protection Benefits in AF Cut Across Subgroups in Meta-Analysis - Medscape - Dec 05, 2013.
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