Post-Stroke Outcomes in Atrial Fibrillation Patients Treated with Various Oral Anticoagulants

Class of 2015 AbstractObjectives: Warfarin has historically been the anticoagulant used for the primary prevention of stroke in atrial fibrillation (AF), however three target specific oral anticoagulants, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban, have recently been approved for use in this setting. Current literature lacks a comparison of these four drugs in relation to post-stroke outcomes, and this study aims to compare their performance in a natural setting. Methods: This retrospective cohort study identified stroke patients admitted to an academic medical center between January 2013 and December 2014 using the Quintiles, Inc.-American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines-Stroke database; pertinent data was collected from the database and patient electronic medical records. Primary endpoints measured were length of stay, 30-day readmission, and discharge disposition; secondary endpoints included rates of admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and complications. Results: Of 940 stroke admissions, 53 ischemic stroke patients were identified as receiving an oral anticoagulant for stroke prevention in AF. The warfarin (n=40) and non-warfarin (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban; n=13) groups were well matched regarding admission demographics, however patients taking warfarin were more likely to have an elevated INR at hospital admission (P=0.0053) and receive tPA (P=0.047). Patients in the warfarin group were also statistically significantly more likely to receive warfarin on discharge (P=0.004). No endpoints achieved statistical significance. Conclusions: No differences in post-stroke outcomes between warfarin and non-warfarin oral anticoagulants used for stroke prevention in AF were found.This item is part of the Pharmacy Student Research Projects collection, made available by the College of Pharmacy and the University Libraries at the University of Arizona. For more information about items in this collection, please contact Jennifer Martin, Librarian and Clinical Instructor, Pharmacy Practice and Science, jenmartin@email.arizona.edu