Monotherapy for nonvalvular A-fib with stable CAD?

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doi:doi: 10.12788/jfp.0289

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Monotherapy for nonvalvular A-fib with stable CAD?

J Fam Pract. 2021 October;70(8):403-404,407 | doi: 10.12788/jfp.0289

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References

1. Lee SR, Rhee TM, Kang DY, et al. Meta-analysis of oral anticoagulant monotherapy as an antithrombotic strategy in patients with stable coronary artery disease and nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Am J Cardiol. 2019;124:879-885. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2019.05.072

2. Fihn SD, Gardin JM, Abrams J, et al; American College of Cardiology Foundation; American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines; American College of Physicians; American Association for Thoracic Surgery; Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association; Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions; Society of Thoracic Surgeons. 2012 ACCF/AHA/ACP/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS guideline for the diagnosis and management of patients with stable ischemic heart disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines, and the American College of Physicians, American Association for Thoracic Surgery, Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2012;60:e44-e164.

3. Whitlock EP, Burda BU, Williams SB, et al. Bleeding risks with aspirin use for primary prevention in adults: a systematic review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med. 2016;164:826-835. doi: 10.7326/M15-2112

4. McNeil JJ, Nelson MR, Woods RL, et al; ASPREE Investigator Group. Effect of aspirin on all-cause mortality in the healthy elderly. N Engl J Med. 2018;379:1519-1528. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1803955

5. Schulman S, Kearon C; Subcommittee on Control of Anticoagulation of the Scientific and Standardization Committee of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis. Definition of major bleeding in clinical investigations of antihemostatic medicinal products in non-surgical patients. J Thromb Haemost. 2005;3:692-694. doi: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2005.01204.x

6. Yasuda S, Kaikita K, Akao M, et al; AFIRE Investigators. Antithrombotic therapy for atrial fibrillation with stable coronary disease. N Engl J Med. 2019;381:1103-1113. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1904143

7. Kumbhani DJ, Cannon CP, Beavers CJ, et al. 2020 ACC expert consensus decision pathway for anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation or venous thromboembolism undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention or with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: a report of the American College of Cardiology Solution Set Oversight Committee. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2021;77:629-658. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2020.09.011

8. Berry NC, Mauri L, Steg PG, et al. Effect of lesion complexity and clinical risk factors on the efficacy and safety of dabigatran dual therapy versus warfarin triple therapy in atrial fibrillation after percutaneous coronary intervention: a subgroup analysis from the REDUAL PCI trial. Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2020;13:e008349. doi: 10.1161/CIRCINTERVENTIONS.119.008349

WHAT’S NEW

OAC monotherapy benefit for patients with nonvalvular AF

This study strongly suggests that there is a large subgroup of patients with stable CAD for whom SAPT should not be prescribed as a preventive medication: patients with nonvalvular AF who are receiving OAC therapy. This study concurs with the results of the 2019 AFIRE (Atrial Fibrillation and Ischemic Events with Rivaroxaban in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease) trial in Japan, in which 2236 patients with stable IHD (coronary artery bypass grafting, stenting, or cardiac catheterization > 1 year earlier) were randomized to receive rivaroxaban either alone or with an antiplatelet agent. All-cause mortality and major bleeding were lower in the monotherapy group.⁶

This meta-analysis calls into question the baseline recommendation from the 2012 American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association (ACCF/AHA) guideline to prescribe aspirin indefinitely for patients with stable CAD unless there is a contraindication (oral anticoagulation is not listed as a contraindication).² The 2020 ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway⁷published in February 2021 stated that for patients requiring long-term anticoagulation therapy who have completed 12 months of SAPT after percutaneous coronary intervention, anticoagulation therapy alone “could be used long-term”; however, the 2019 study by Lee was not listed among their references. Inclusion of the Lee study might have contributed to a stronger recommendation.

Also, the new guidelines include clinical situations in which dual therapy could still be continued: “… if perceived thrombotic risk is high (eg, prior myocardial infarction, complex lesions, presence of select traditional cardiovascular risk factors, or extensive [atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease]), and the patient is at low bleeding risk.” The guidelines state that in this situation, “… it is reasonable to continue SAPT beyond 12 months (in line with prior ACC/AHA recommendations).”⁷ However, the cited study compared dual therapy (dabigatran plus APT) to warfarin triple therapy. Single OAC therapy was not studied.⁸

CAVEATS

DOAC patient populationwas not well represented

The study had a low percentage of patients taking a DOAC. Also, because there were variations in how the studies reported CHA₂DS₂-VASc and HAS-BLED scores, this meta-analysis was unable to determine if different scores might have produced different outcomes. However, the studies involving registries had the advantage of looking at the data for this population over long periods of time and included a wide variety of patients, making the recommendation likely valid.

CHALLENGES TO IMPLEMENTATION

Primary care approach may not sync with specialist practice

We see no challenges to implementation except for potential differences between primary care physicians and specialists regarding the use of antiplatelet agents in this patient population.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The PURLs Surveillance System was supported in part by Grant Number UL1RR024999 from the National Center for Research Resources, a Clinical Translational Science Award to the University of Chicago. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Center for Research Resources or the National Institutes of Health.