Effectiveness and safety of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant in the treatment of patients with morbid obesity or high body weight with venous thromboembolism: A meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) poses a significant health risk to patients with morbid obesity or high body weight. Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are emerging treatments, but their effectiveness and safety compared with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in this population are yet to be thoroughly studied. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Four electronic databases were searched for relevant studies comparing the efficacy and safety of NOACs and VKAs in treating patients with VTE with a body mass index > 40 kg/m2or body weight > 120 kg. Eligible studies were scored for quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results: Thirteen studies were included. The meta-analysis results showed that compared to VKAs, NOACs significantly decreased the risk of VTE occurrence (odds ratio = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.57-0.91, I2= 0%, P