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Background Current data for atrial fibrillation (AF) and stroke are predominantly derived from North American and European patients. Although the burden of AF is high in Latin America (LA), little is known about current management of AF in the region. Methods We aimed to assess the consistency of efficacy and safety outcomes associated with dabigatran etexilate (DE) versus warfarin in patients with AF in LA from the RE-LY (Randomised Evaluation of Long-Term Anticoagulant Therapy) trial. Data from 956 LA patients and 17 157 non-LA patients were included in this analysis.chi(2) test and Cox proportional regression analysis were performed. The primary efficacy outcome included all strokes or systemic embolism (SE). Main safety outcome was major bleeding. Results LA patients were more often female, had higher proportion of permanent AF and lower creatinine clearance, among other characteristics. Vitamin K antagonist use at randomisation and time in therapeutic range were lower in LA than in non-LA patients (44% vs 63%, p<0.001; and 61.3 +/- 22.6% vs 64.6 +/- 19.6%, p=0.015, respectively). Efficacy endpoints were 0.91% versus 1.68% for DE 150 mg twice daily versus warfarin, respectively. Stroke/SE risk was lower in LA patients treated with DE 150 mg twice daily compared with warfarin, although not significant (HR 0.54; 95% CI 0.18 to 1.62). The annual stroke/SE rates for DE 110 mg twice daily versus warfarin were 1.82 versus 1.68, also not significantly different (HR 1.09; CI 0.44 to 2.67). There were no treatment-by-region interactions for either dose of DE on efficacy and safety outcomes. Conclusion Despite differences in the clinical profile and AF management, the efficacy and safety benefits of dabigatran over warfarin in LA patients relative to non-LA patients are consistent with those observed in the main RE-LY trial.

Background: Strategies used for the management of dabigatran-related major bleeding events (MBEs), and their effectiveness have not been systematically evaluated. Methods: Reports on 1034 individuals experiencing 1121 MBEs (696 on dabigatran, and 425 on warfarin) in 5 phase III randomized controlled trials were assessed independently by two investigators. Results: MBEs were managed either by drug discontinuation only (37%), or drug discontinuation with either transfusion of only red cell concentrates (38%), or plasma (23%). Few MBEs (2%) were treated with coagulation factor concentrates. The effectiveness of the management was assessed as good in significantly larger proportion of MBEs on dabigatran (91%) than on warfarin (84%, odds ratio [OR] 1.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-2.49), which was consistent with the lower 30-day mortality (OR (OR 0.66; 95% CI, 0.44-1.00)). The effectiveness of bleeding management in non-traumatic bleeding was better in patients with dabigatran than with warfarin (OR 1.82; 95% CI, 1.18-2.79) but was similar in traumatic bleeding (OR 0.75; 95% CI, 0.25-2.30). The relative effectiveness of management of bleeding and 30-day mortality rates across other key subgroups of patients or sites of bleeding, the use of platelet inhibitors, age-, sex-and renal function subgroups, were comparable in MBEs on dabigatran or warfarin. Conclusion: Despite the unavailability of a specific antidote at the time of these studies, bleeding in patients receiving dabigatran was managed in the overwhelming majority of patients without coagulation factor concentrates, with comparable or superior effectiveness and lower 30-day mortality rates versus those who bleed while receiving warfarin.

Aims The Randomized Evaluation of Long-Term Anticoagulation Therapy (RE-LY) trial allowed patients who completed the trial receiving their assigned dabigatran 150 mg (D150) or 110 mg (D110) twice a day to continue into the Long-term Multicenter Extension of Dabigatran Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation (RELY-ABLE) trial. This permitted assessment of outcomes over a median of 4.6 and a maximum of 6.7 years, respectively. Methods and results The analysed population included only those patients who completed RE-LY on dabigatran and continued into RELYABLE without interruption of assigned dabigatran. Cumulative risk was expressed as Kaplan-Meier plots. Outcomes were compared using Cox proportional hazard modelling. Stroke or systemic embolization rates were 1.25 and 1.54% per year (D150 and D110, respectively); hazard ratio (HR) 0.81 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.68-0.96] (P = 0.02). Ischaemic stroke was 1.03 (D150) and 1.29%/year (D110); HR 0.79 (95% CI: 0.66-0.95) (P = 0.01). Haemorrhagic stroke rates were 0.11 (D150) and 0.13%/year (D110); HR 0.91 (95% CI: 0.51-1.62) (P = 0.75). Rates of major haemorrhage were 3.34 (D150) and 2.76%/year (D110); HR 1.22 (95% CI: 1.08-1.37) (P = 0.0008). Intracranial haemorrhage rates were 0.32 (D150) and 0.23%/year (D110); HR 1.37 (95% CI: 0.93-2.01) (P = 0.11). Mortality was 3.43 (D150) and 3.55%/year (D110); HR 0.97 (95% CI: 0.87-1.08) (P = 0.54). Conclusion Annualized rates of all outcomes were constant with better efficacy of D150, less major bleeding with D110, and low intracerebral haemorrhage rates for both doses. There were no additional safety concerns. This is the longest continuous randomized experience of a novel anticoagulant.

BACKGROUND: The RE-LY trial (Randomized Evaluation of Long-Term Anticoagulant Therapy) compared dabigatran 150 and 110 mg twice daily with warfarin in 18 113 patients with atrial fibrillation. Those with prosthetic heart valves, significant mitral stenosis, and valvular heart disease (VHD) requiring intervention were excluded. Others with VHD were included. METHODS: This is a post hoc analysis of the RE-LY trial. RESULTS: There were 3950 patients with any VHD: 3101 had mitral regurgitation, 1179 with tricuspid regurgitation, 817 had aortic regurgitation, 471 with aortic stenosis, and 193 with mild mitral stenosis. At baseline, patients with any VHD had more heart failure, coronary disease, renal impairment, and persistent atrial fibrillation. Patients with any VHD had higher rates of major bleeds (hazard ratio [HR], 1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-1.5) but similar stroke or systemic embolism event rates (HR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.88-1.33). For patients receiving dabigatran 110 mg, major bleed rates were lower than for patients taking warfarin (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.56-0.95 with VHD; HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.71-0.99 without VHD), and major bleed rates for dabigatran 150 mg were similar to those for warfarin in patients with VHD (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.64-1.06) or without VHD (HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.83-1.15). For dabigatran 150 mg, stroke/systemic embolic event rates were lower compared with warfarin in those with VHD (HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.37-0.93) and those without VHD (HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.52-0.86), and stroke/systemic embolic event rates were similar for warfarin and dabigatran 110 mg regardless of the presence of VHD (HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.65-1.45; and HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.70-1.10). Intracranial bleeds and death rates for dabigatran 150 and 110 mg were lower compared with warfarin independently of the presence of VHD. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of any VHD did not influence the comparison of dabigatran with warfarin.