title: Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants for Stroke Prevention in Asian Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: Meta-Analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The use of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), the cornerstone treatment for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation, is limited by the perceived risk of serious bleeding in Asia. Non-VKA oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are safer alternatives. Here, we evaluate performance differences of NOACs between Asians and non-Asians.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared efficacy and safety of NOACs between patients enrolled in Asian and non-Asian countries using aggregative data from phase III clinical trials. The odds ratios (ORs [95% confidence interval]) were calculated by a random effects model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparing with VKAs, standard-dose NOACs reduced stroke or systemic embolism (OR=0.65 [0.52-0.83] versus 0.85 [0.77-0.93], P interaction= 0.045) more in Asians than in non-Asians and were safer in Asians than in non-Asians about major bleeding (OR=0.57 [0.44-0.74] versus 0.89 [0.76-1.04], P interaction=0.004), hemorrhagic stroke (OR=0.32 [0.19-0.52] versus 0.56 [0.44-0.70], P interaction=0.046) in particular, whereas gastrointestinal bleeding was significantly increased in non-Asians (OR=0.79 [0.48-1.32] versus 1.44 [1.12-1.85], P interaction=0.041). Generally, low-dose NOACs were safer than VKAs without heterogeneity in efficacy and safety between Asians and non-Asians, except for ischemic stroke, major, and gastrointestinal bleeding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that standard-dose NOACs were more effective and safer in Asians than in non-Asians, whereas low-dose NOACs performed similarly in both populations.
authors: From the General Clinical Research Center (K.-L.W., C.-E.C.), Department of Medical Research (K.-L.W., S.-J.L., C.-E.C.), and Division of Cardiology (K.-L.W., S.-J.L., C.-E.C.), Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan (K.-L.W., S.-J.L., C.-E.C.); University of Birmingham, Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom (G.Y.H.L.); and Aalborg Thrombosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark (G.Y.H.L.).
authors: Kang-Ling
authors: KL
authors: Wang
authors: From the General Clinical Research Center (K.-L.W., C.-E.C.), Department of Medical Research (K.-L.W., S.-J.L., C.-E.C.), and Division of Cardiology (K.-L.W., S.-J.L., C.-E.C.), Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan (K.-L.W., S.-J.L., C.-E.C.); University of Birmingham, Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom (G.Y.H.L.); and Aalborg Thrombosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark (G.Y.H.L.).
authors: Gregory Y H
authors: GY
authors: Lip
authors: From the General Clinical Research Center (K.-L.W., C.-E.C.), Department of Medical Research (K.-L.W., S.-J.L., C.-E.C.), and Division of Cardiology (K.-L.W., S.-J.L., C.-E.C.), Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan (K.-L.W., S.-J.L., C.-E.C.); University of Birmingham, Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom (G.Y.H.L.); and Aalborg Thrombosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark (G.Y.H.L.).
authors: Shing-Jong
authors: SJ
authors: Lin
authors: From the General Clinical Research Center (K.-L.W., C.-E.C.), Department of Medical Research (K.-L.W., S.-J.L., C.-E.C.), and Division of Cardiology (K.-L.W., S.-J.L., C.-E.C.), Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan (K.-L.W., S.-J.L., C.-E.C.); University of Birmingham, Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom (G.Y.H.L.); and Aalborg Thrombosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark (G.Y.H.L.). cechiang@vghtpe.gov.tw.
authors: Chern-En
authors: CE
authors: Chiang
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D004617:Embolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014812:Vitamin K
keywords: anticoagulants; atrial fibrillation; hemorrhage; stroke