title: Randomized controlled trials of new oral anticoagulants for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence of atrial fibrillation is increasing because of an aging population. Vitamin K antagonists have been the standard therapy for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation but are underutilized and often poorly managed because of their inherent limitations. This study critically reviews the recently completed phase 3 randomized controlled trials of new oral anticoagulants (OACs) for stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: RE-LY (dabigatran), AVERROES (apixaban), ARISTOTLE (apixaban) and ROCKET-AF (rivaroxaban).
  
  
  RESULTS
  On the basis of their favorable pharmacological characteristics and excellent efficacy and safety profile as demonstrated by the results of the randomized controlled trials, the new OACs have the potential to replace vitamin K antagonists as the first-line treatment for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation, with warfarin reserved for patients with contraindications to the new OACs and those unable to afford them.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new OACs represent a major advance for patients with atrial fibrillation with the potential to reduce morbidity and mortality due to cardioembolic stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, McMaster University, East Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. liew.aaron@gmail.com
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liew
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Eikelboom
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014812:Vitamin K; D014859:Warfarin