Oral anticoagulant switching in patients with atrial fibrillation: a scoping review

Adenike R Adelakun; Ricky D Turgeon; Mary A De Vera; Kimberlyn McGrail; Peter S Loewen

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2023-071907

Oral anticoagulant switching in patients with atrial fibrillation: a scoping review

BMJ Open. 2023 Apr 25;13(4):e071907. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-071907.

Authors

Adenike R Adelakun^{1

2}, Ricky D Turgeon^{1

2}, Mary A De Vera^{1

2}, Kimberlyn McGrail^{3

4}, Peter S Loewen^{5

2}

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
² Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
³ Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
⁴ School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
⁵ Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada peter.loewen@ubc.ca.

Abstract

Introduction: Oral anticoagulants (OACs) prevent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Several factors may cause OAC switching.

Objectives: To examine the phenomenon of OAC switching in patients with AF, including all available evidence; frequency and patterns of switch, clinical outcomes, adherence, patient-reported outcomes, reasons for switch, factors associated with switch and evidence gaps.

Design: Scoping review.

Data sources: MEDLINE, Embase and Web of Science, up to January 2022.

Results: Of the 116 included studies, 2/3 examined vitamin K antagonist (VKA) to direct-acting OAC (DOAC) switching. Overall, OAC switching was common and the definition of an OAC switch varied across. Switching from VKA to dabigatran was the most prevalent switch type, but VKA to apixaban has increased in recent years. Patients on DOAC switched more to warfarin than to other DOACs. OAC doses involved in the switches were hardly reported and patients were often censored after the first switch. Switching back to a previously taken OAC (frequently warfarin) occurred in 5%-21% of switchers.The risk of ischaemic stroke and gastrointestinal bleeding in VKA to DOAC switchers compared with non-switchers was conflicting, while there was no difference in the risk of other types of bleeding. The risk of ischaemic stroke in switchers from DOAC versus non-switchers was conflicting. Studies evaluating adherence found no significant changes in adherence after switching from VKA to DOAC, however, an increase in satisfaction with therapy were reported. Reasons for OAC switch, and factors associated with OAC switch were mostly risk factors for stroke and bleeding. Clinical outcomes, adherence and patient-reported outcomes were sparse for switches from DOACs.

Conclusions: OAC switching is common in patients with AF and patients often switch back to an OAC they have previously been on. There are aspects of OAC switching that have received little study, especially in switches from DOACs.

Keywords: anticoagulation; cardiology; stroke medicine.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Administration, Oral
Anticoagulants / adverse effects
Atrial Fibrillation* / complications
Atrial Fibrillation* / drug therapy
Brain Ischemia* / complications
Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / chemically induced
Humans
Ischemic Stroke* / complications
Rivaroxaban / adverse effects
Stroke* / drug therapy
Stroke* / etiology
Stroke* / prevention & control
Warfarin / adverse effects

Substances

Warfarin
Rivaroxaban
Anticoagulants

Grants and funding

CIHR/Canada