Effectiveness of Direct Oral Anticoagulants and Vitamin K Antagonists in Preventing Stroke in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Liver Cirrhosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Patients with atrial fibrillation and concurrent liver cirrhosis have been excluded from major clinical trials evaluating direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) due to safety concerns. This has led to uncertainty regarding the optimal anticoagulant therapy in this population at high risk of thromboembolic events. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the effectiveness and safety of DOACs versus vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in patients with atrial fibrillation and liver cirrhosis. Databases including Embase, MEDLINE/PubMed, and Web of Science were searched for relevant studies. The primary effectiveness outcome was stroke or systemic embolism, and the safety outcome was major bleeding events. A total of 10 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Compared to VKAs, the use of DOACs was associated with a significantly lower risk of stroke or systemic embolism (RR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.65-0.92, p=0.005). The risk of all-cause mortality was comparable between the two groups (RR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.74-1.07, p=0.23). Notably, DOACs demonstrated a significantly lower risk of major bleeding events (RR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.61-0.73, p<0.01) compared to VKAs. This meta-analysis suggests that DOACs may be a favorable alternative to VKAs for the prevention of thromboembolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation and liver cirrhosis, with a lower risk of stroke or systemic embolism and major bleeding. However, further research is needed to establish optimal dosing strategies and assess the safety and efficacy of DOACs in patients with advanced liver disease.