ARTESIA Study Indicates Apixaban Reduces Stroke Risk but Increases Bleeding in Subclinical AF

A new meta-analysis of the two trials showed that "oral anticoagulation with edoxaban or apixaban reduces the risk of ischemic stroke by approximately one-third and increases major bleeding by roughly double.   In absolute numbers, there were three fewer ischemic strokes per 1000 patient years with anticoagulation in the two trials combined, at the cost of seven more major bleeds.   In patients with pacemakers or implantable loop recorders with continuous monitoring, subclinical AF is detected in about one third of patients. The totality of risk factors in each patient — their bleeding risk, stroke risk, how much AF they have, and make a decision as to whether to give anticoagulation or not." Results: Both trials showed the stroke rate is low in these patients — about 1% per year — and that anticoagulation can reduce it a bit further at the expense of increasing major bleeding. The AF episodes picked up on these devices constitute a sumcient stroke risk to warrant anticoagulation, given the bleeding risk." Disclaimer: Lupin makes no representation or warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of any scientific information shared by the HCP on the ­­­STAR UPDATE podcast. You should not allow the contents of this to substitute for your own medical judgment, which you should exercise in evaluating the information on this website.