Baseline Characteristics and 3-Year Outcome of Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation Patients Treated with the Four Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs).

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) represent the cornerstone therapy for cardioembolic events prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). In practice, the choice of one DOAC over another is guided by the decision-making process of the physician, which considers specific patient and drug characteristics. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical features and long-term outcomes of a real-world population treated with DOACs, where the use of the 4 different DOACs is quite equal.

Direct oral anticoagulants in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and extreme body weight.

Background: Limited clinical data exist describing the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patient with extreme body weight. Thus, the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) recommends avoiding DOACs in patients with weight >120 Kg, and on the contrary, no restrictions exist for underweight patients.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of extreme body weight on DOAC activity and to compare the clinical outcomes of patients with an extreme body weight versus patients with a normal weight (61-119 Kg) treated with DOACs.

Safety and efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in very elderly patients (≥85 years old) with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Background: Limited real-world data are available regarding the comparison about safety and efficacy of DOACs prescription in very elderly patients (≥85 years) with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Concern about the risk of bleeding with anticoagulation in very older patients still represents an important challenge for clinicians. The aim of this study was to evaluate the different prevalence of major bleeding and thromboembolic events between very elderly NVAF patients (≥85 years) compared to those non very elderly (<85 years).