AbstractBackground and Objectives:The safety of new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) depends largely on renal function. As renal function deteriorates with aging, the safety of NOACs is clinically important for very old cardiac patients. This study analyzed the efficacy and safety of NOACs prescribed to an octogenarian population in a university hospital.
Subject and Methods:A total of 158 consecutive patients aged ≥80 years and who had been prescribed NOACs for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (54 patients on dabigatran, 104 patients on rivaroxaban) were included. Demographic features, laboratory findings, and clinical follow-up results were retrospectively reviewed.
Results:Reduced doses were prescribed in 105 (66.2%) patients. The estimated GFR curve in octogenarian patients shifted left compared to that of patients aged <80 years. There were two strokes or systemic embolic events during the follow-up period of 276 days. Major bleeding occurred in 13 patients, where gastrointestinal bleeding and anemia of unknown origin were the major causes.
IntroductionThe prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and AF-related stroke events have been shown to increase with age [1-6]. Anticoagulation using warfarin is effective for the prevention of stroke or systemic embolic events. However, warfarin requires periodic blood monitoring and interacts with numerous drugs and food; thus, it is underutilized in elderly patients for fear of a higher risk of bleeding and poor tolerability [7]. Unlike warfarin, new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) do not require regular blood monitoring. They have more predictable pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and less drug and food interactions when compared with warfarin. In recent, randomized clinical trials; NOACs have been shown to be non-inferior to warfarin for the prevention of long-term stroke in patients with non-valvular AF [8,9]. Moreover, they are associated with a significantly lower rate of intracranial hemorrhagic events and favorable survival benefits [10]. However, use of NOACs is dictated by the patient’s renal function because a significant proportion of these drugs are excreted via the renal route. As renal function in elderly patients decreases, prescription of NOACs in the elderly, especially octogenarians, requires caution [11]. The present study aimed to analyze the efficacy (prevention of stroke or systemic embolism) and safety (risk of bleeding) of NOACs prescribed in a Korean octogenarian population.
MethodsStudy Design and SubjectsThe medical records of 158 patients aged ≥80 years and with non-valvular AF who started NOAC treatment for primary or secondary prevention of ischemic stroke or systemic embolism at the Asan Medical Center, Korea; between January, 2011 and September, 2014; were retrospectively reviewed. Non-valvular AF was defined as AF occurring in the absence of rheumatic mitral valve disease, a prosthetic heart valve, or mitral valve repair [11]. The baseline characteristics of the enrolled study patients are presented in Table 1. The mean follow-up duration was 276±202 days. The mean CHA2DS2-VASc score, a cumulative score of congestive heart failure, hypertension, age (≥75 years or ≥65 years), diabetes, stroke, vascular disease, and sex (female); was 4.7. Of the 158 patients who received NOACs, 54 (34.2%) had received dabigatran (50 on a low dosage of 110 mg, twice daily; 4 on a normal dosage of 150 mg twice daily) and 104 (65.2%) received rivaroxaban (54 on a low dosage of 10-15 mg daily; 50 on a normal dosage of 20 mg daily). In order to evaluate renal function, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) obtained in the octogenarian population was compared with that obtained from a younger age group of subjects (n=496) selected from the NOAC patient pool at the Asan Medical Center. This study was approved by the institutional review board of the Asan Medical Center.
Outcome AssessmentsThe efficacy outcome was the composite of ischemic stroke or systemic embolism. Stroke was defined as sudden onset of a focal neurological deficit lasting at least 24 hours. Systemic embolism was defined as acute vascular occlusion of an extremity or major organ as documented either at the time of autopsy or with angiography or vascular imaging.
The safety outcome was major bleeding. Major bleeding was defined as a decrease in hemoglobin levels ≥2 g/dL, transfusion of ≥2 units of packed red blood cells, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, and death from bleeding.
Two investigators reviewed the patients’ medical records during the follow-up period and adjudicated all stroke, systemic embolism, and bleeding events that contributed to these prespecified outcomes. Event rates were presented as the number of events per 100 patient-years of follow-up.
ResultsRenal Function in OctogenariansThe renal function as measured by eGFR showed a left-shift in the octogenarian population when compared with that measured of the younger population (Figure 1). In the younger population, serum creatinine levels of 0.5-1.0 mg/dL indicated eGFR >50 mL/min; while in octogenarians, serum creatinine levels of 0.5-1.0 mg/dL indicated moderately depressed (50 mL/min or below) eGFR in 51% of patients. Serum creatinine levels were influenced by medical illness or administered medications. Factors aggravating renal functions included trauma, hospitalization, dehydration, poor oral intake, administration of antibiotics, medical imaging, and more. An example of fluctuating renal function is illustrated in Figure 2.
Efficacy of NOACs in the Octogenarian PopulationNo systemic embolic events were observed during the follow-up period. Stroke occurred in 2 patients (1.16 events/100 patient-years). The clinical profiles of patients with ischemic stroke or bleeding are presented in Figure 3. One patient experienced ischemic stroke and showed a border zone infarction at the parieto-occipital region with simultaneous and significant narrowing of the carotid artery. Therefore, a clear cause of infarction was not clear when considering both cardioembolic and large artery disease. A patient with intracranial bleeding (subarachnoid hemorrhage) showed electrocardiographic features of tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome. The cause of the subarachnoid hemorrhage was not clear and may have been caused by either dabigatran or by trauma from a fall.
Safety of NOACs in the Octogenarian PopulationClinically significant bleeding occurred in 13 patients (8.9% per 100 patient-years). Gastrointestinal bleeding including anemia of unknown origin was the most common cause of major bleeding (n=7). Hematuria, intramuscular and intracranial bleeding occurred in 4, 2, and 1 patient, respectively. NOAC use was discontinued in 30 (18.9%) patients, largely due to bleeding complications. Other side effects that required discontinuation of NOACs were dyspepsia, chest pain, fatigue, and increased creatinine (Figure 4).
DiscussionThe major findings of the present study are as follows: (1) NOACs were effective for the prevention of stroke or systemic embolism in octogenarian patients; (2) NOACs were discontinued in 18.9% of patients and the major cause of discontinuation was bleeding complications; and (3) considering the high risk of bleeding while maintaining its efficacy, a systematic study aimed at determining the optimum dosage in an aged patient population is required.
Recent studies have investigated the effects of NOACs and consequently established their role in the field of stroke prevention in AF. In addition, sub-group analysis on the Asian population has reported even more improved results with the use of NOACs. The reported events rate of stroke or systemic embolism ranges between 1.26-2.6%/year in patients on NOACs, and 2.61-3.4%/year in patients on warfarin [12-14]. Our study showed a similar efficacy profile of NOACs in the octogenarian population, confirming that NOACs may be non-inferior or more effective than warfarin for the prevention of embolic events in much older (≥80 years) AF patients. Risk of major bleeding was reported to be 4.43-5.10/100 patient-years for NOACs and 4.37-4.40/100 patient-years for warfarin in patients aged ≥75 years [15,16]. Although there have as yet been no reports on the risk of bleeding from NOACs in this extreme age group, the risk of major bleeding (8.9/100 patient-years in our study) does not appear to be significantly different from that observed with the use of warfarin therapy (13.1/100 patient-years) and reported in previous studies of octogenarian patients [7]. In addition, a recent prospective observational Italian study reported that the rate of major bleeding was low (1.87/100 patient-years) in octogenarians on warfarin [17]. Thus, considering the reduced renal excretion capacity in an aged patient population and our own results regarding the risk of major bleedings in octogenarian patients, the currently recommended NOAC dosage may be higher than ideal. Future prospective randomized clinical trials in a larger number of patients are required to investigate optimum NOAC dosage this extreme age group of patients. In the Randomized Evaluation of Long-Term Anticoagulation Therapy (RE-LY) trial, risks of stroke or systemic embolism were not found to be statistically different across doses of dabigatran (110 mg and 150 mg) in elderly patients aged ≥75 years [15]. In a Japanese trial using low dosage rivaroxaban (15 mg once daily; mean age of study population, 71 years), a strong trend towards a decreased rate of stroke or systemic embolism with low dose rivaroxaban vs. warfarin was observed (HR=0.49; p=0.050) [12]. Therefore, low dose NOAC administration may be non-inferior over normal doses for the prevention of stroke or systemic embolism in East Asian octogenarians. Moreover, low dose NOAC was significantly associated with a decreased risk of total or major bleeding when compared with normal dose NOAC. Based on these results, NOAC therapy, especially low dose use, may be non-inferior or superior to warfarin for preventing total and major bleeding in frail patients such as octogenarians.
This study had several limitations. First, this was a retrospective analysis and the number of patients was relatively low. Second, different types and doses of NOACs were prescribed in our analysis. Thus, the efficacy and safety of different NOACs could not be compared. Despite these limitations, the present study shows that NOACs are highly effective for prevention of stroke or systemic embolism in the octogenarian population.
References1. Go AS, Hylek EM, Phillips KA, Chang Y, Henault LE, Selby JV, Singer DE. Prevalence of diagnosed atrial fibrillation in adults: national implications for rhythm management and stroke prevention: the AnTicoagulation and Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation (ATRIA) Study. JAMA 2001; 285: 2370-2375.
2. Wolf PA, Abbott RD, Kannel WB. Atrial fibrillation as an independent risk factor for stroke: the Framingham Study. Stroke 1991; 22: 983-988.
3. Kannel WB, Wolf PA, Benjamin EJ, Levy D. Prevalence, incidence, prognosis, and predisposing conditions for atrial fibrillation: population-based estimates. Am J Cardiol 1998; 82: 2N-9N.
4. Hart RG, Pearce LA, Aguilar MI. Meta-analysis: antithrombotic therapy to prevent stroke in patients who have nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Ann Intern Med 2007; 146: 857-867.
5. Mant J, Hobbs FD, Fletcher K, Roalfe A, Fitzmaurice D, Lip GY, Murray E; BAFTA investigators; Midland Research Practices Network (MidReC). Warfarin versus aspirin for stroke prevention in an elderly community population with atrial fibrillation (the Birmingham Atrial Fibrillation Treatment of the Aged Study, BAFTA): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2007; 370: 493-503.
6. Singer DE, Chang Y, Fang MC, Borowsky LH, Pomernacki NK, Udaltsova N, Go AS. The net clinical benefit of warfarin anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation. Ann Intern Med 2009; 151: 297-305.
7. Hylek EM, Evans-Molina C, Shea C, Henault LE, Regan S. Major hemorrhage and tolerability of warfarin in the first year of therapy among elderly patients with atrial fibrillation. Circulation 2007; 115: 2689-2696.
8. Connolly SJ, Ezekowitz MD, Yusuf S, Eikelboom J, Oldgren J, Parekh A, Pogue J, Reilly PA, Themeles E, Varrone J, Wang S, Alings M, Xavier D, Zhu J, Diaz R, Lewis BS, Darius H, Diener HC, Joyner CD, Wallentin L; RE-LY Steering Committee and Investigators. Dabigatran versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med 2009; 361: 1139-1151.
9. Patel MR, Mahaffey KW, Garg J, Pan G, Singer DE, Hacke W, Breithardt G, Halperin JL, Hankey GJ, Piccini JP, Becker RC, Nessel CC, Paolini JF, Berkowitz SD, Fox KA, Califf RM; ROCKET AF Investigators. Rivaroxaban versus warfarin in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med 2011; 365: 883-891.
10. Sardar P, Chatterjee S, Chaudhari S, Lip GY. New oral anticoagulants in elderly adults: evidence from a meta-analysis of randomized trials. J Am Geriatr Soc 2014; 62: 857-864.
11. January CT, Wann LS, Alpert JS, Calkins H, Cigarroa JE, Cleveland JC, Jr., Conti JB, Ezekowitz MD, Murray KT, Sacco RL, Stevenson WG, Tchou PJ, Tracy CM, Yancy CW. 2014 AHA/ACC/HRS guideline for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation: executive summary: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on practice guidelines and the Heart Rhythm Society. Circulation 2014; 130: 2071-2104.
12. Hori M, Matsumoto M, Tanahashi N, Momomura S, Uchiyama S, Goto S, Izumi T, Koretsune Y, Kajikawa M, Kato M, Ueda H, Iwamoto K, Tajiri M; J-ROCKET AF study investigators. Rivaroxaban vs. warfarin in Japanese patients with atrial fibrillation - the J-ROCKET AF study -. Circ J 2012; 76: 2104-2111.
13. Hori M, Connolly SJ, Zhu J, Liu LS, Lau CP, Pais P, Xavier D, Kim SS, Omar R, Dans AL, Tan RS, Chen JH, Tanomsup S, Watanabe M, Koyanagi M, Ezekowitz MD, Reilly PA, Wallentin L, Yusuf S; RE-LY Investigators. Dabigatran versus warfarin: effects on ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes and bleeding in Asians and non-Asians with atrial fibrillation. Stroke 2013; 44: 1891-1896.
14. Wong KS, Hu DY, Oomman A, Tan RS, Patel MR, Singer DE, Breithardt G, Mahaffey KW, Becker RC, Califf R, Fox KA, Berkowitz SD, Hacke W, Hankey GJ; Executive Steering Committee and the ROCKET AF Study Investigators. Rivaroxaban for stroke prevention in East Asian patients from the ROCKET AF trial. Stroke 2014; 45: 1739-1747.
15. Eikelboom JW, Wallentin L, Connolly SJ, Ezekowitz M, Healey JS, Oldgren J, Yang S, Alings M, Kaatz S, Hohnloser SH, Diener HC, Franzosi MG, Huber K, Reilly P, Varrone J, Yusuf S. Risk of bleeding with 2 doses of dabigatran compared with warfarin in older and younger patients with atrial fibrillation: an analysis of the randomized evaluation of long-term anticoagulant therapy (RELY) trial. Circulation 2011; 123: 2363-2372.
16. Halperin JL, Hankey GJ, Wojdyla DM, Piccini JP, Lokhnygina Y, Patel MR, Breithardt G, Singer DE, Becker RC, Hacke W, Paolini JF, Nessel CC, Mahaffey KW, Califf RM, Fox KA; ROCKET AF Steering Committee and Investigators. Efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban compared with warfarin among elderly patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation in the Rivaroxaban Once Daily, Oral, Direct Factor Xa Inhibition Compared With Vitamin K Antagonism for Prevention of Stroke and Embolism Trial in Atrial Fibrillation (ROCKET AF). Circulation 2014; 130: 138-146.
17. Poli D, Antonucci E, Testa S, Tosetto A, Ageno W, Palareti G; Italian Federation of Anticoagulation Clinics. Bleeding risk in very old patients on vitamin K antagonist treatment: results of a prospective collaborative study on elderly patients followed by Italian Centres for Anticoagulation. Circulation 2011; 124: 824-829.
Table 1.Values are expressed as the mean±SD, median (interquartile range) or number (percentage). Dose reduction refers to dabigatran 110 mg bid, dabigatran 10 or 15 mg qd. AF, atrial fibrillation; ASA, acetylsalicylic acid; CHF, congestive heart failure; CV, cardiovascular; DM, diabetes mellitus; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; HT, hypertension; MI, myocardial infarction; NOACs, new oral anticoagulants; PCI, percutaneous coronary intervention; SBP, systolic blood pressure; TIA, transient ischemic stroke. CHA2DS2-VASc is the cumulative score of congestive heart failure, hypertension, age (≥75 years or ≥65 years), diabetes, stroke, vascular disease, and sex (female). HAS-BLED is the cumulative score of hypertension, abnormal renal and liver function, stroke, bleeding, labile INRs, elderly (age >65 years), and drugs or alcohol. Table 2.eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; F, female; Hg, hemoglobin (g/dL); ICH, intracranial hemorrhage; M, male; NOACs, new oral anticoagulants; Prd 220, dabigatran 110 mg bid; Xrt 10, rivaroxaban 10 mg qd; Xrt 15, rivaroxaban 15 mg qd; Xrt 20, rivaroxaban 20 mg qd. HAS-BLED is the cumulative score of hypertension, abnormal renal and liver function, stroke, bleeding, labile INRs, elderly (e.g., age >65 years), and drugs or alcohol. |
|