Oral Anticoagulant treatment and the risk of dementia in patients with atrial fibrillation.

This study compared the dementia incidence rate between users and nonusers of oral anticoagulants (OACs) in a large Australian cohort of primary care patients with atrial fibrillation. During the mean follow‐up time of 3.7 ± 2.0 years, 425 patients had a documented diagnosis of dementia. After propensity matching, the incidence of dementia was significantly lower in OAC users (hazard ratio [HR], 0.59; compared with nonusers. Direct‐acting oral anticoagulant users had a lower incidence of dementia than non‐OAC users (HR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.33–0.73; P<0.001) or warfarin users (HR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.28–0.74; P=0.002). No significant difference was seen between warfarin users and non‐OAC users (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.70–1.70; P=0.723). The study concluded that in patients with atrial fibrillation, direct‐acting oral anticoagulant use may result in a lower incidence of dementia compared with treatment with either warfarin or no anticoagulant. The risk of dementia in patients with atrial fibrillation was halved in those taking a direct‐acting oral anticoagulant compared with those on warfarin. Thus, use of direct‐acting oral anticoagulants instead of warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation may provide additional benefits by lowering the risk of dementia. 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.