Comparative effectiveness and safety of new oral anticoagulants and warfarin in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation depending on their age
This study was designed to compare effectiveness and safety of warfarin, direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran, Xa factor inhibitors rivaroxaban and apixaban used to prevent stroke in 280 elderly patients in patients with age-specific non-valvular atrialfibrillation. The treatment of patients aged 65-74 and 75-80years for 2years with dabitragan (110 mg b.i.d), apixaban (5 mg b.i.d), and rivaroxaban (20 mg once daily) prevented stroke as effectively as warfarin therapy but less frequently caused severe intracranial hemorrhage. It is concluded that these new anticoagulants can be used as alternative medication for antithrombotic therapy of elderly patients with age-specific non-valvular atrial fibrillation.