Oral Anticoagulation Choice and Dosage in Very Elderly Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Background: Selecting the optimal oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy for elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) remains challenging. Our real-world study investigates clinical factors guiding OAC prescription patterns and compares outcomes between full- and reduced-dose direct-acting oral an...

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Main Authors: Martha Zergioti, Melina Kyriakou, Andreas S. Papazoglou, Anastasios Kartas, Dimitrios V. Moysidis, Athanasios Samaras, Efstratios Karagiannidis, Vasileios Kamperidis, Antonios Ziakas, George Giannakoulas
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3425/12/3/86
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author Martha Zergioti
Melina Kyriakou
Andreas S. Papazoglou
Anastasios Kartas
Dimitrios V. Moysidis
Athanasios Samaras
Efstratios Karagiannidis
Vasileios Kamperidis
Antonios Ziakas
George Giannakoulas
author_facet Martha Zergioti
Melina Kyriakou
Andreas S. Papazoglou
Anastasios Kartas
Dimitrios V. Moysidis
Athanasios Samaras
Efstratios Karagiannidis
Vasileios Kamperidis
Antonios Ziakas
George Giannakoulas
author_sort Martha Zergioti
collection DOAJ
description Background: Selecting the optimal oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy for elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) remains challenging. Our real-world study investigates clinical factors guiding OAC prescription patterns and compares outcomes between full- and reduced-dose direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in this demographic. Methods: This post hoc analysis of the MISOAC-AF trial focused on hospitalized AF patients aged ≥ 75 years prescribed OAC at discharge. Predictors of VKA and reduced DOAC dosing were identified using adjusted odds ratios (aORs). Cox regression models calculated adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for primary (all-cause mortality) and secondary outcomes (stroke, bleeding, AF or heart failure hospitalization, cardiovascular death). Results: Among 450 elderly patients, 63.6% received DOACs and 36.4% received VKAs. Higher CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores and antiplatelet use predicted VKA prescription. Hypertension, prior stroke, and bleeding history favored DOAC use. Advanced age and chronic kidney disease correlated with reduced DOAC dosing. Over a 3.7-year follow-up period, there was no significant difference in all-cause mortality between the DOAC and VKA groups (aHR 0.79, 95% CI 0.58–1.06) or between the full-dose and reduced-dose DOAC groups (aHR 0.96, 95% CI 0.60–1.53). Secondary analyses also did not yield statistically significant results in either comparison. Conclusions: Clinical profile parameters in elderly AF patients predict VKA or DOAC use. Clinical outcomes were similar between different OAC therapies.
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spelling doaj-art-e219bf0b7f5a4dcb83315dc1cc68bfce2025-08-20T01:49:04ZengMDPI AGJournal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease2308-34252025-02-011238610.3390/jcdd12030086Oral Anticoagulation Choice and Dosage in Very Elderly Patients with Atrial FibrillationMartha Zergioti0Melina Kyriakou1Andreas S. Papazoglou2Anastasios Kartas3Dimitrios V. Moysidis4Athanasios Samaras5Efstratios Karagiannidis6Vasileios Kamperidis7Antonios Ziakas8George Giannakoulas9Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceMedical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceMedical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceMedical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece424 General Hospital of Thessaloniki, 56429 Thessaloniki, GreeceSecond Department of Cardiology, Hippokration Hospital of Thessaloniki, 54643 Thessaloniki, Greece424 General Hospital of Thessaloniki, 56429 Thessaloniki, GreeceMedical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceMedical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceMedical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceBackground: Selecting the optimal oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy for elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) remains challenging. Our real-world study investigates clinical factors guiding OAC prescription patterns and compares outcomes between full- and reduced-dose direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in this demographic. Methods: This post hoc analysis of the MISOAC-AF trial focused on hospitalized AF patients aged ≥ 75 years prescribed OAC at discharge. Predictors of VKA and reduced DOAC dosing were identified using adjusted odds ratios (aORs). Cox regression models calculated adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for primary (all-cause mortality) and secondary outcomes (stroke, bleeding, AF or heart failure hospitalization, cardiovascular death). Results: Among 450 elderly patients, 63.6% received DOACs and 36.4% received VKAs. Higher CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores and antiplatelet use predicted VKA prescription. Hypertension, prior stroke, and bleeding history favored DOAC use. Advanced age and chronic kidney disease correlated with reduced DOAC dosing. Over a 3.7-year follow-up period, there was no significant difference in all-cause mortality between the DOAC and VKA groups (aHR 0.79, 95% CI 0.58–1.06) or between the full-dose and reduced-dose DOAC groups (aHR 0.96, 95% CI 0.60–1.53). Secondary analyses also did not yield statistically significant results in either comparison. Conclusions: Clinical profile parameters in elderly AF patients predict VKA or DOAC use. Clinical outcomes were similar between different OAC therapies.https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3425/12/3/86atrial fibrillationoral anticoagulationvery elderlyoctogenariansnonagenarians
spellingShingle Martha Zergioti
Melina Kyriakou
Andreas S. Papazoglou
Anastasios Kartas
Dimitrios V. Moysidis
Athanasios Samaras
Efstratios Karagiannidis
Vasileios Kamperidis
Antonios Ziakas
George Giannakoulas
Oral Anticoagulation Choice and Dosage in Very Elderly Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease
atrial fibrillation
oral anticoagulation
very elderly
octogenarians
nonagenarians
title Oral Anticoagulation Choice and Dosage in Very Elderly Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
title_full Oral Anticoagulation Choice and Dosage in Very Elderly Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
title_fullStr Oral Anticoagulation Choice and Dosage in Very Elderly Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
title_full_unstemmed Oral Anticoagulation Choice and Dosage in Very Elderly Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
title_short Oral Anticoagulation Choice and Dosage in Very Elderly Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
title_sort oral anticoagulation choice and dosage in very elderly patients with atrial fibrillation
topic atrial fibrillation
oral anticoagulation
very elderly
octogenarians
nonagenarians
url https://www.mdpi.com/2308-3425/12/3/86
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