Rivaroxaban Safe for AF Patients, Study Finds

A new study finds that rivaroxaban reduces bleeding and stroke risks in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Moreover, medication discontinuation rates were low worldwide.

To conduct their study, the researchers conducted a pooled analysis of 11,121 patients with AF participating in the XANTUS (Xarelto for Prevention of Stroke in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation), XANAP (Xarelto for Prevention of Stroke in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation in Asia), and XANTUS-EL (Xarelto for Prevention of Stroke in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation in Latin America and EMEA Region) trials.

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The researchers followed participants initiating rivaroxaban for stroke prevention for one year and tracked treatment-emergent major bleeding, adverse events, and all-cause death (primary outcomes), as well as treatment-emergent thromboembolic events and nonmajor bleeding (secondary outcomes).

Results of the analysis showed there were 1.7 major bleeding events per 100 patient-years, 1.9 all-cause deaths per 100 patient-years, and 1.0 strokes or systemic embolisms per 100 patient-years.

The rate for major bleeding was lowest in Latin America, all-cause death was lowest in Eastern Europe, and stroke of systemic embolism was lowest in Latin America.

The researchers also note that 1-year treatment persistence was 77.4%.

“This large, prospective, real-world analysis in 11,121 patients from 47 countries showed low bleeding and stroke rates in rivaroxaban-treated patients with AF, with low treatment discontinuation in different regions of the world,” the researchers concluded. “Results were broadly consistent across regions.”

—Amanda Balbi

Reference:

Kirchhof P, Radaideh G, Kohn YH, et al; Global XANTUS Program Investigators. Global perspective safety analysis of rivaroxaban. 2018;72(2). doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2018.04.058.

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