Ischemic stroke and history of gastric bleeding: Which anticoagulant to choose?

15/02/2021

Limited data support the benefits of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) among atrial fibrillation patients with prior gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB). 

In a new study, the authors aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of NOACs compared with those of warfarin among atrial fibrillation patients with prior GIB.

A total of 42 048 patients were included (24 781 in the NOAC group and 17 267 in the warfarin group). The mean time from prior GIB to the initiation of oral anticoagulant was 3.1±2.6 years. After inverse probability of treatment weighting, baseline characteristics were balanced between the two groups (mean age, 72 years; men, 56.8%; and mean CHA2DS2-VASc score, 3.7). Lower risks of ischemic stroke, major bleeding, and the composite outcome were associated with NOAC use than with warfarin use (weighted hazard ratio, 0.608 [95% CI, 0.543-0.680]; hazard ratio, 0.731 [95% CI, 0.642-0.832]; and hazard ratio, 0.661 [95% CI, 0.606-0.721], respectively). For all secondary outcomes, NOACs showed greater risk reductions compared with warfarin.

In conclusion, NOACs were associated with lower risks of ischemic stroke and major bleeding than warfarin among atrial fibrillation patients with prior GIB.