Abstract TMP54: Stroke Incidence Among Atrial Fibrillation Patients Taking Novel Oral Anticoagulants (noacs) Compared to Warfarin

• Published in: Stroke (1970) 2018-01, Vol.49 (Suppl_1)
• Main Authors: Shpak, Max, Nadasdy, Zoltan, Cowperthwaite, Matthew, Ramakrishnan, Anurekha, Orndorff, Kevin, Fanale, Christopher V
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0039-2499; 1524-4628
• DOI: 10.1161/str.49.suppl_1.TMP54

Abstract only Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (afib) patients are often prescribed anticoagulants to reduce stroke risk. Recently, NOACs have begun to supplant warfarin because of faster onset/offset of effects and purportedly lower hemorrhage risk. This study compares the efficacy of NOACs vs. warfarin in preventing ischemic stroke and hemorrhages. Hypothesis: We hypothesize a lower incidence of both ischemic stroke and hemorrhaging among afib patients taking NOACs than among those on warfarin because of the simpler NOAC dosing. Methods: Records of 5593 afib patients on a NOAC and 5796 patients on warfarin were obtained from St. David’s HealthCare hospitals (Austin, TX). The relative incidence of both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes (as well as all other non-traumatic hemorrhages) among these patients was compared using Fisher’s tests. In order to establish that patients prescribed warfarin vs. NOACs do not differ according to confounding risk factors, demographic characteristics and medical histories were compared using t-tests. Results: There is significantly higher (Odds Ratio = 2.43, p