Background: In Asian patients in RE-LY, dabigatran etexilate (DE) was as effective as warfarin, with a significantly lower bleeding risk. We evaluated the relationship between baseline renal function or CHADS2 score and efficacy or safety outcomes in these patients.
Methods and results: Asian patients (n=2,782) were categorized according to baseline renal function or CHADS2 score, and efficacy and safety outcomes were analyzed for DE (110 mg and 150 mg b.i.d.) vs. warfarin. There was an increase in the rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding with worsening renal function and CHADS2 score. For stroke/systemic embolism (primary efficacy endpoint), there was no treatment interaction for dabigatran at either 110 or 150 mg b.i.d. compared with warfarin related to patients' baseline renal function (Pinteraction=0.56 for DE 110 mg and 0.62 for DE 150 mg vs. warfarin) or CHADS2 score (Pinteraction=0.68 for DE 110 mg and 0.31 for DE 150 mg vs. warfarin). For major bleeding, there was no treatment interaction by creatinine clearance category observed for either dose (Pinteraction=0.60 and 0.62 for DE 110 mg and DE 150 mg, respectively). Baseline CHADS2 score had no significant effect on bleeding event rates with DE vs. warfarin.
Conclusions: Bleeding and stroke rates in Asian patients varied according to renal function and CHADS2 score, but the relative benefits of DE over warfarin were preserved when analyzed by subcategories.