TY - JOUR
T1 - Gender Differences in Efficacy and Safety of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Atrial Fibrillation
T2 - Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis
AU - Raccah, Bruria Hirsh
AU - Perlman, Amichai
AU - Zwas, Donna R.
AU - Hochberg-Klein, Sarit
AU - Masarwa, Reem
AU - Muszkat, Mordechai
AU - Matok, Ilan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2018.
PY - 2018/11/1
Y1 - 2018/11/1
N2 - Background: Studies indicate that women with atrial fibrillation (AF) are less likely to receive anticoagulants despite their higher risk of stroke compared with men. Objective: To evaluate whether the efficacy and safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) differ in women with AF as compared with men. Our secondary aim was to examine gender differences regarding the safety and efficacy of specific DOACs. Data Sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched through March 2017. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Randomized clinical trials that reported on major bleeding and stroke with DOACs in women and men with AF were included. Meta-analysis and network meta-analysis was performed. Data Synthesis: Five trials met the inclusion criteria. Among 66 389 patients, 37.8% were women. Women treated with DOACs were at higher risk of stroke and systemic embolism compared with men (RR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.04-1.35; I2 = 10%) but there was a significantly lower risk of major bleeding in women compared with men (RR = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.78-0.94; I2 = 0%). Network meta-analyses suggested differences between various DOACs in men and women. Limitations: Patient-level data enabling control for differences in baseline risk and head-to-head comparisons between DOACs were not available. Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice: Undertreatment with DOACs among women cannot be justified. Conclusion: Women treated with DOACs had a lower rate of major bleeding and higher rate of stroke and systemic emboli compared with men. Further investigation of DOACs, including differences between the DOACs in specific populations is warranted.
AB - Background: Studies indicate that women with atrial fibrillation (AF) are less likely to receive anticoagulants despite their higher risk of stroke compared with men. Objective: To evaluate whether the efficacy and safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) differ in women with AF as compared with men. Our secondary aim was to examine gender differences regarding the safety and efficacy of specific DOACs. Data Sources: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched through March 2017. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Randomized clinical trials that reported on major bleeding and stroke with DOACs in women and men with AF were included. Meta-analysis and network meta-analysis was performed. Data Synthesis: Five trials met the inclusion criteria. Among 66 389 patients, 37.8% were women. Women treated with DOACs were at higher risk of stroke and systemic embolism compared with men (RR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.04-1.35; I2 = 10%) but there was a significantly lower risk of major bleeding in women compared with men (RR = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.78-0.94; I2 = 0%). Network meta-analyses suggested differences between various DOACs in men and women. Limitations: Patient-level data enabling control for differences in baseline risk and head-to-head comparisons between DOACs were not available. Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice: Undertreatment with DOACs among women cannot be justified. Conclusion: Women treated with DOACs had a lower rate of major bleeding and higher rate of stroke and systemic emboli compared with men. Further investigation of DOACs, including differences between the DOACs in specific populations is warranted.
KW - atrial fibrillation
KW - bleeding
KW - direct oral anticoagulants
KW - gender
KW - stroke
KW - women
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85047428195&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1060028018771264
DO - 10.1177/1060028018771264
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C2 - 29681165
AN - SCOPUS:85047428195
SN - 1060-0280
VL - 52
SP - 1135
EP - 1142
JO - Annals of Pharmacotherapy
JF - Annals of Pharmacotherapy
IS - 11
ER -