title: Composite end point analyses of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants compared with warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have been proposed as alternatives to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). The aim of this study is to examine the efficacy and safety of NOACs compared with warfarin with composite end points in patients with atrial fibrillation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This semi-systematic review performed a study of Phase III randomized controlled trials comparing NOACs with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in patient with atrial fibrillation using composite end points (combination of various clinical events). The use of composite end points allowed for combining efficacy and safety outcomes, thereby comparing the differences between NOAC and warfarin therapy from a clinical perspective.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with NOAC compared with warfarin was associated with a significant reduction in the sum of stroke or non-CNS, systemic embolism and major bleeding (odds ratio 0.87; 95% CI: 0.82-0.91).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Generally, NOACs were associated with a more favorable efficacy and safety profile compared with warfarin with regard to composite end points.
authors.affiliation: a 1 Department of Cardiology, Aalborg AF Study Group, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, 9000, Denmark.|b 2 Aalborg Thrombosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Madzak
authors.affiliation: a 1 Department of Cardiology, Aalborg AF Study Group, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, 9000, Denmark.|b 2 Aalborg Thrombosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Torben Bjerregaard
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.affiliation: c 3 University of Birmingham, Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Deirdre A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.affiliation: b 2 Aalborg Thrombosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.|c 3 University of Birmingham, Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Gregory Y H
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Lip
authors.affiliation: b 2 Aalborg Thrombosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: Peter Brønnum
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004617:Embolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D014812:Vitamin K; D014859:Warfarin
keywords: atrial fibrillation; efficacy; non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants; safety; stroke prevention; warfarin