DOAC or VKA for Elderly Patients With Recent Stroke and AF?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) becomes more prevalent with increasing age, and both are independent risk factors for ischemic stroke. As the population ages, the number of patients aged 85 years and older, which is often termed the “oldest old,” with AF‑related ischemic stroke is growing. We are well aware that anticoagulation is essential in preventing thromboembolic events. In the current guidelines, direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) are recommended in patients with AF for recurrent stroke prevention in preference to vitamin K antagonists (VKA), because the former drug class is easier to use, safer, and more effective.

Nevertheless, there are practical questions regarding treatment strategies adopted for the oldest old with a recent stroke. Can we start treating these patients with anticoagulants early? What is the oral anticoagulant of choice?

Unfortunately, we have little concrete evidence for this patient population. Moreover, many physicians are reluctant to prescribe DOAC to the oldest old because of assumed safety concerns due to clinical situations particularly prevalent in the oldest old, especially for fear of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH).

Recent Data

The study “Oral Anticoagulants in the Oldest Old with Recent Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation” was conducted to bridge this evidence gap. It included individual patient data analysis from seven prospective stroke cohorts, comparing DOAC vs VKA use in patients from two age groups (≥ 85 years and < 85 years) with AF and recent stroke (within the past 3 months). The primary outcome was the composite of recurrent stroke, ICH, and all‑cause death.

In total, 5984 patients were eligible for analysis. Of this group, 1380 (23%) were aged ≥ 85 years, and 3688 (62%) received a DOAC. During a total follow‑up of 6874 patient‑years, the hazard for the composite outcome was 26% lower for the group treated with DOAC than for the group treated with a VKA. Furthermore, DOAC had a similar net clinical benefit in patients aged ≥ 85 years and < 85 years. These results allow us to conclude that DOAC are superior to VKA for the oldest old with AF and recent stroke.

Practical Implications

With this study, we now have answers to our two questions regarding anticoagulation for patients aged 85 years and older with AF and recent stroke:

Can we start treating these patients with anticoagulants early? Yes, we can.

Patients with recent stroke have a higher risk for hemorrhagic complications, including ICH, and hemorrhagic transformation of the ischemic infarct, but this patient population was excluded from the pivotal DOAC randomized clinical trials. In the study presented, anticoagulation was initiated at a median of 5 (2-11) days after the index event (stroke). The results are reassuring because they indicate that treatment with DOAC is safe with regard to risk for ICH in the oldest old with recent ischemic stroke.

And what is the oral anticoagulant of choice? DOAC.

We now have evidence that DOAC are less risky than VKA as they relate to ICH. According to the results of the study, this risk was 26% lower with DOAC than with VKA in both age groups.

This article was translated from the Medscape Portuguese edition.

Source: Read Full Article