Direct Comparison of Dabigatran, Rivaroxaban, and Apixaban for Effectiveness and Safety in Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation

Peter A. Noseworthy, Xiaoxi Yao, Neena S. Abraham, Lindsey R. Sangaralingham, Robert D. McBane, Nilay D. Shah

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

134 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background The introduction of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) has been a major advance for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients and clinicians now have a choice between different NOACs, but there is no direct comparative effectiveness evidence to guide decision-making. We aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban in clinical practice. Methods Using a large US administrative claims database, we created three one-to-one propensity-score-matched cohorts of patients with nonvalvular AF who were users of dabigatran, rivaroxaban, or apixaban between October 1, 2010 and February 28, 2015 (rivaroxaban vs dabigatran, n = 31,574; apixaban vs dabigatran, n = 13,084; and apixaban vs rivaroxaban, n = 13,130). The primary outcomes were stroke and systemic embolism (effectiveness) and major bleeding (safety) that occurred during treatment. Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare outcomes in propensity-score-matched cohorts. Results We found no differences between the three NOACs in the risk of stroke or systemic embolism (hazard ratio [HR], 1.00; 95% CI, 0.75-1.32 for rivaroxaban vs dabigatran; HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.51-1.31 for apixaban vs dabigatran; and HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.64-1.72 for apixaban vs rivaroxaban). Apixaban was associated with a lower risk of major bleeding (HR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.36-0.70; P < .001 vs dabigatran and HR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.28-0.54; P < .001 vs rivaroxaban). Rivaroxaban was associated with an increased risk of major bleeding (HR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.10-1.53; P < .01) and intracranial bleeding (HR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.12-2.86; P < .05) compared with dabigatran. Conclusions Dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban appear to have similar effectiveness, although apixaban may be associated with a lower bleeding risk and rivaroxaban may be associated with an elevated bleeding risk.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1302-1312
Number of pages11
JournalChest
Volume150
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2016

Keywords

  • atrial fibrillation
  • bleeding
  • non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants
  • stroke

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Direct Comparison of Dabigatran, Rivaroxaban, and Apixaban for Effectiveness and Safety in Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this