Secondary stroke prevention with apixaban in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: A subgroup analysis of the STANDARD study.

BACKGROUND: Data on independent risk factors for stroke recurrence in Japanese patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation are limited. METHODS: We performed a subgroup analysis of a postmarketing surveillance study of apixaban (STroke prevention ANticoagulant Drug Apixaban Real-world Data study) in Japanese patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation receiving oral apixaban (5 mg/2.5 mg twice daily) in routine clinical practice. Patients were categorized into primary and secondary prevention groups based on the absence or presence of a history of ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack, respectively. RESULTS: Patients in the secondary prevention group (1101 of 6306 patients [17.5%] analyzed; mean observation period, 15.7 months) had a higher risk of ischemic stroke or hemorrhage than those in the primary prevention group. The incidence rates of major (3.92%/year vs 2.06%/year), intracranial (1.87%/year vs 0.55%/year), and cerebral (1.14%/year vs 0.37%/year) hemorrhage and effectiveness outcomes (ischemic stroke/systemic embolism/transient ischemic attack, 3.25%/year vs 0.57%/year) were significantly higher (all P < 0.001) in the secondary prevention group than in the primary prevention group. Multivariate analysis identified no independent risk factors in the secondary prevention group, while prior major bleeding, alcohol abuse, advanced age, male sex, lower body weight, higher serum creatinine, and antiplatelet drug use were identified as risk factors for major hemorrhage, and advanced age and antiplatelet drug use for effectiveness outcomes in the primary prevention group. CONCLUSIONS: Among Japanese patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who received apixaban, presence of a history of ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack was associated with higher incidence rates of hemorrhage and thromboembolic events.

Thrombotic and Cardiovascular Events and Treatment Patterns Among Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19 in Japan: An Analysis of a Nationwide Medical Claims Database.

INTRODUCTION: Limited data are available regarding the prevalence of thrombotic/cardiovascular disease and treatment patterns for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Japan. In this study we describe patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in Japan. METHODS: This retrospective database study analyzed the Japan Medical Data Vision database (416 acute care hospitals) for patients hospitalized for COVID-19 during the identification period from 1 January 1 to 30 September 2020. RESULTS: Among 9282 eligible patients, 832 (9%) had developed thrombotic disease including myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, deep vein thromboembolism and pulmonary embolism. Intriguingly, 171(1.8%) had two thrombotic events and 25 (0.3%) had three or four thrombotic events at the same time. The data also showed that arterial thrombotic events accounted for 77% of total thrombotic events. Anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet medication was provided to 3312 patients. Even with antithrombotic medication, 21.2% of patients suffered from thrombotic diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COVID-19 could experience thrombotic complications in every blood vessel. Further optimization of medication is crucial for preventing thrombotic complications and improving prognosis.