Extended Anticoagulation for VTE: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Chest

Review of 16 studies (n=12,458) found DOACs linked to decrease in overall (risk ratio 0.48;95% CI;0.27-0.86;p=0.01) and VTE-related (0.36;0.15-0.89;p=0.03) mortality whereas VKAs were not. Both similarly prevented recurrent VTE but only VKAs linked to increased major bleeding risk.

Time Course for Benefit and Risk of Clopidogrel and Aspirin after Acute Transient Ischemic Attack and Minor Ischemic Stroke: A Secondary Analysis from the POINT Randomized Trial

Circulation

Secondary analysis of POINT (n=4,881) noted benefit of clopidogrel+aspirin occurs predominantly within first 21 days and outweighs low, but ongoing risk of major haemorrhage suggesting limiting use to 21 days may maximize benefit/reduce risk after TIA/minor ischaemic stroke.

Conference report: Increasing Dietary Vitamin K Intake Stabilizes Anticoagulation Therapy in Warfarin-Treated Patients with a History of Instability- A 24-week Randomized Controlled Trial

American Society for Nutrition

RCT (n=49) found increasing dietary vitamin K intakes resulted in greater proportion patients with %TTR ˃70% over assessment period. (50 % who increased intake by ≥150 µd/day through specific food choices met criteria vs. 19% control [general dietary information] group; p=0.026.

A systematic review of patient‐reported outcomes associated with the use of direct‐acting oral anticoagulants

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

Review of 21 studies reports patients appear to prefer treatment with DOACs vs warfarin, as shown by the higher quality of life, satisfaction and adherence described in the studies. However, heterogeneity in the analysed studies does not allow firm conclusions.

A comprehensive analysis of the effects of rivaroxaban on stroke or transient ischaemic attack in patients with heart failure, coronary artery disease, and sinus rhythm: the COMMANDER HF trial

European Heart Journal

In this post hoc analysis (n=5022), rivaroxaban significantly reduced the primary neurological endpoint of all-cause stroke or TIA compared with placebo by 32% (2.4% vs. 3.5%; 1.29 events vs. 1.90 events per 100 patient-years; HR 0.68; P = 0.02).

Effect of 1-Month Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Followed by Clopidogrel vs 12-Month Dual Antiplatelet Therapy on Cardiovascular and Bleeding Events in Patients Receiving PCI The STOPDAPT-2 Randomized Clinical Trial

Journal of the American Medical Association

This RCT (n=2974) reports 1-month DAPT was both noninferior and superior to 12-month DAPT for the primary end point, occurring in 2.36% with 1-month DAPT v 3.70% with 12-month DAPT (difference −1.34%; HR 0.64, meeting criteria for noninferiority (P<0.001) and superiority (P=0.04).

Effect of P2Y12 Inhibitor Monotherapy vs Dual Antiplatelet Therapy on Cardiovascular Events in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention The SMART-CHOICE Randomized Clinical Trial

Journal of the American Medical Association

In this RCT (n=2912) P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy after 3-month duration of DAPT resulted in a noninferior rate of major cardiovascular events (all-cause death, MI, and stroke) vs prolonged DAPT at 12 months (2.9% vs 2.5%; difference 0.4%; P=0.007 for non-inferiority).

Revised SPC: Xarelto (rivaroxaban) film-coated tablets

electronic Medicines compendium

The SPC has been updated in line with PRAC recommendations to advise DOACs, including rivaroxaban, are not recommended for patients with a history of thrombosis who are diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome, in particular for patients that are triple positive.

Coagulation Testing in Patients Taking Direct Oral Anticoagulants: A Teachable Moment

JAMA Internal Medicine

This Teachable Moment examines the case of a man taking a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) who received a high INR test result during a visit to the emergency department, and highlights that INR is an unreliable measure of therapeutic anticoagulation in patients taking DOACs.

The above records have been identified by UKMi and feature in the NICE Medicines Awareness Service. Further details on this service can be found at:

http://www.evidence.nhs.uk/about-evidence-services/content-and-sources/medicines-information/new-medicines-awareness-services