Risk of intracranial hemorrhage between different direct oral anticoagulants in older patients seen in the emergency department with a head injury: A population-based cohort study

Thrombosis Research
Canadian retrospective study (n=9230; 5.9% with intracranial haemorrhage) found no differences in the risk of intracranial haemorrhage between DOACs (dabigatran vs rivaroxaban; dabigatran vs apixaban; rivaroxaban vs apixaban) and matched cohorts.

A multinational European network to implement integrated care in elderly multimorbid atrial fibrillation patients: the AFFIRMO Consortium

European Heart Journal
This consortium will provide new evidence on specific care models, including risk stratification tools for patients with polypharmacy, which will help to improve clinical management and reduce the risks of major clinical adverse outcomes.

Risk of venous thromboembolism in men with prostate cancer compared with men in the general population: a nationwide population-based cohort study in Sweden

BMJ Open
Swedish study (n=92,105 with prostate cancer, n=466,241 without prostate cancer) found men with prostate cancer had a mean 50% increased risk of VTE during the 5 years following cancer diagnosis vs men without prostate cancer. DVT accounted for 52% of VTE cases in both cohorts.

COMPASS open label extension study results support the long-term use of rivaroxaban (Xarelto®) plus aspirin for vascular protection in patients with chronic Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and/or Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

Biospace Inc.
COMPASS LTOLE study (n=12,964) found rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily + aspirin 75-100 mg daily for up to 3 years was linked to similar/lower incidence rates for major CV events (2.35 vs 2.18/100 patient yrs) & bleeding (1.01 vs 1.67/100 patient yrs) vs randomised treatment phase.

Apixaban or Warfarin and Aspirin or Placebo After Acute Coronary Syndrome or Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Prior Stroke - A Post Hoc Analysis From the AUGUSTUS Trial

JAMA Cardiology
In this analysis of the subgroup of patients with a history of atrial fibrillation or stroke apixaban was associated with a lower risk of bleeding, death, or hospitalization than warfarin. Patients treated with aspirin had a higher bleeding risk than those receiving placebo.

The above records have been identified by UKMi and feature in the NICE Medicines Awareness Service. Further details on this service can be found at:

http://www.evidence.nhs.uk/about-evidence-services/content-and-sources/medicines-information/new-medicines-awareness-services