Which Oral Anticoagulant for Which Atrial Fibrillation Patient: Recent Clinical Trials and Evidence-Based Choices

Current practice guidelines recommend oral anticoagulant therapy for most patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation with more than a low risk of stroke. Although warfarin is very effective and the risk of major bleeding is acceptable, the use of the drug is challenging for patients and physicians. The 3 novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs), dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban, have been shown to be either noninferior or superior to warfarin for the prevention of stroke and/or systemic embolism and their rates of major bleeding are no greater than warfarin. They are much easier for patients to use and for physicians to manage. Except for certain situations in which the NOACs have not been evaluated or some feature of warfarin is preferable, clinical guidelines generally recommend a preference for a NOAC over warfarin when oral anticoagulation is indicated. Although the NOACs have many similarities in their advantageous pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics, there are a number of difference between them with regard to particular patient characteristics (eg, age >= 75 years, renal dysfunction, coronary artery disease, venous thromboembolism, risk of bleeding, prior stroke and/or transient ischemic attack, side effects, dose regimens, and cost-effectiveness). These differences are outlined and discussed in terms of their potential relevance in deciding among the 3 available NOACs for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation.