title: Novel oral anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation.
abstract: Anticoagulation therapy is effective in preventing primary and secondary thromboembolic events due to atrial fibrillation. Warfarin, which was approved by the United States in 1954, was the only long-term oral anticoagulation therapy till the approval of dabigatran in 2010, and of rivaroxaban and other direct factor Xa inhibitors from 2011, forming a group known as novel oral anticoagulants (NOAC). NOAC have fewer food and drug interactions compared to warfarin; hence, the patient will require fewer clinic visits. However, the short half-life of NOAC means that twice-a-day dosing is needed and there is higher risk of a prothrombotic state when doses are missed. Other disadvantages are the lack of long-term data on NOAC, their high cost and the current lack of locally available antidotes.
authors.forename: Choon How
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: How
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002309:Cardiology / Q000379:methods; D000069604:Dabigatran / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D000069552:Rivaroxaban / Q000008:administration & dosage; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D014859:Warfarin / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin; D000069552:Rivaroxaban; D000069604:Dabigatran
keywords: NOAC; anticoagulation; atrial fibrillation; non-VKA oral anticoagulants