Objectives: In this study-level meta-analysis, we evaluated the clinical outcome with nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) versus vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with cancer.
Background: Anticoagulation in AF patients with cancer is challenging given the coexistence of elevated thrombotic and bleeding risk. The efficacy and safety of NOACs in this setting remain unclear.
Methods: We included three randomized trials in our primary analysis (N = 2,661 patients) and three observational studies in our secondary, confirmatory analysis (N = 21,112 patients). Outcome measures were: the composite of any stroke or systemic embolism, ischemic stroke, venous thromboembolism, major bleeding, intracranial bleeding; and all-cause death. Mean follow-up duration was 2.2 years.
Results: In the primary analysis, the use of NOACs was associated with similar incidence of stroke/systemic embolism (odds ratio [OR] 0.70, 95% confidence interval 0.45-1.09; p = 0.11), ischemic stroke (OR 0.71, 0.31-1.64; p = 0.42), venous thromboembolism (OR 0.91, 0.33-2.53; p = 0.86), all-cause death (OR 1.02, 0.72-1.42; p = 0.93), and major bleeding (OR 0.81, 0.61-1.06; p = 0.13) compared with VKAs. The occurrence of intracranial bleeding was significantly lower in the NOACs versus VKAs group (OR 0.11, 0.02-0.63; p = 0.01). These results were overall confirmed in the secondary analysis, where there was additionally a significant reduction of stroke/systemic embolism, ischemic stroke, and venous thromboembolism with NOACs.
Conclusion: In AF patients with malignancy, NOACs appear at least as effective as VKAs in preventing thrombotic events and reduce intracranial bleeding. NOACs may represent a valid and more practical alternative to VKAs in this setting of high-risk patients.
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.