Oral anticoagulation for adults with atrial fibrillation or venous thromboembolism

Abstract

Most patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) or acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) can be treated with a direct-acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC); currently available DOACs are apixaban, rivaroxaban and dabigatran. Warfarin is the first-line oral anticoagulant for valvular AF in patients with mechanical heart valves or rheumatic mitral stenosis. Apixaban and rivaroxaban are first-line oral anticoagulants for cancer-associated VTE, and for AF or VTE in patients with body mass index over 35 kg/m2 or actual body weight over 120 kg. All DOACs require dose adjustment in people with moderate kidney impairment. Routine laboratory measurement of drug concentrations or relevant coagulation function assays is not required for safe and effective use of DOACs; however, there are situations when it may be beneficial, including emergency scenarios requiring normal haemostasis and where excessive or inadequate anticoagulation is suspected.