The Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes of Direct Oral Anticoagulantsin Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Chronic Kidney Disease: From the Database of A Single-Center Registry

Safety and Effectiveness of Apixaban Versus Warfarin in Japanese Patients with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation Stratified by Renal Function: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

We previously conducted a retrospective cohort study using chart review of oral anticoagulant-naïve Japanese patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) that assessed the risk of major bleeding and stroke/systemic embolism (SE) events of apixaban versus warfarin.

METHODS

In this subgroup analysis, we compared the risk of major bleeding and stroke/SE events by stratifying patients into four subgroups matched 1:1 using propensity score matching (PSM) according to baseline creatinine clearance (CrCl; mL/min): ≥ 15 to < 30, ≥ 30 to < 50, ≥ 50 to < 80, and ≥ 80.

RESULTS

Of the 7074 patients in the apixaban group and 4998 in the warfarin group eligible for inclusion in the analysis, 4385 were included in each group after PSM. Incidence rates of major bleeding and stroke/SE events were generally lower with apixaban versus warfarin across the CrCl subgroups. When all patients with a CrCl change of < 0 mL/min per year during the study period (apixaban, n = 3871; warfarin, n = 2635) were stratified into four subgroups based on the magnitude of CrCl decline (median CrCl change [mL/min] per year: - 1.09, - 3.48, - 7.54, and - 36.92 for apixaban, and - 1.10, - 3.65, - 7.85, and - 40.40 for warfarin), the incidence rates of major bleeding and stroke/SE events generally increased with an increasing CrCl decline per year in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In Japanese patients with NVAF, the safety and effectiveness of apixaban and warfarin were consistent across different renal subgroups, including those with severe renal impairment. Our results highlight the importance of monitoring renal function variations over time in patients with NVAF.

CLINICALTRIALS

GOV IDENTIFIER

NCT03765242.

Correct dosing, adherence and persistence of DOACs in atrial fibrillation and chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are increasing in prevalence globally and share common risk factors.Our aim was to characterise real-world evidence on direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) prescribing for people with AF and CKD, in terms of adherence, persistence and renal dose titration.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE and CINAHL were searched from inception to June 2022. Our search terms included a combination of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and keywords including 'atrial fibrillation', 'chronic kidney disease', 'adherence', 'persistence', 'direct oral anticoagulants' and 'dosing'. Data extraction and quality assessment were undertaken by two reviewers independently. Meta-analyses for pooled estimates were performed using DerSimonian and Laird random-effects models. Age, sex, diabetes, hypertension and heart failure were chosen as variables of interest.

RESULTS

From 19 studies, a total of 252 117 patients were included with CKD and AF. Meta-analysis was only possible in seven studies with 128 406 patients, five on DOAC dose titration and two on adherence. There were insufficient studies on persistence. Our meta-analysis of dosing showed that 68% of patients with CKD and AF had correct dosing. There was no evidence to show any association between correct DOAC dosing and variables of interest. Overall, 67% of patients were DOAC adherent.

CONCLUSION

Adherence and correct dosing of DOACs were suboptimal compared with other medications in the pooled studies with respect to CKD and AF. Thus, further research is required as the lack of generalisation of findings is a rate-limiting factor for improved DOAC management in AF and CKD.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD;42022344491.