This is a retrospective study of End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) patients on dialysis receiving apixaban or warfarin at Tawam Hospital \[a tertiary care hospital in Al Ain, UAE\]. The study aims to assess the appropriateness of prescribing apixaban and warfarin in this population and evaluate their safety and effectiveness.
Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), including apixaban, are used for stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and for venous thromboembolism (VTE) management. Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) on dialysis face elevated risks of thromboembolic events and bleeding. While apixaban is FDA-approved for use in this population, its safety and efficacy compared to warfarin are not well established in this vulnerable population. This retrospective observational study aims to assess the prescribing appropriateness of apixaban compared to warfarin and evaluate their safety and effectiveness in a cohort of ESKD patients undergoing dialysis. This study will include ESKD patients on dialysis receiving apixaban or warfarin at Tawam Hospital from May 1, 2018, to January 31, 2024. Data on demographics, anticoagulant dosing, therapy duration, bleeding events, CHA2DS2-VASc score, HAS-BLED score, and thromboembolic events will be collected. Safety will be assessed by bleeding incidents, and effectiveness will be measured by VTE and stroke events. Dose appropriateness was evaluated according to FDA guidelines for apixaban and INR targets for warfarin. Data will be collected for eligible patients through electronic medical records (EMR).
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
67
Apixaban is a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) that inhibits factor Xa, playing a crucial role in preventing blood clot formation. It is commonly prescribed for stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and for treating and preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE), including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).
Warfarin is a vitamin K antagonist widely used as an anticoagulant to prevent thromboembolic events, particularly in conditions like atrial fibrillation, venous thromboembolism, and in patients with mechanical heart valves. It inhibits the enzyme vitamin K epoxide reductase, thereby reducing the activation of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors (II, VII, IX, X) and regulatory proteins C and S. Due to its narrow therapeutic index, warfarin requires regular monitoring of the International Normalized Ratio (INR) to optimize anticoagulation while minimizing the risk of bleeding. Warfarin's pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics can be influenced by genetic polymorphisms, diet, and drug interactions, necessitating individualized dosing strategies.
SEHA Tawam Hospital
Al Ain City, Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates
Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events [Safety and Tolerability]
Safety will be assessed by Major/Minor bleeding incidents based on International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) criteria
Time frame: From date of enrollment until the date of first bleeding event or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 6 months
Effectiveness: VTE
Effectiveness will be measured by VTE events based on documented radiography and/or wells score for PE/DVT
Time frame: From date of enrollment until the date of first documented VTE event or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 6 months
Effectiveness: Stroke
The primary outcome is the occurrence of stroke events in the study population, confirmed through clinical evaluation (e.g., neurological assessment) and imaging (CT or MRI). Data will be collected and reported as the number of patients experiencing stroke events during the study period. The incidence will be further categorized by stroke type (ischemic or hemorrhagic) and the severity of the event, using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) for assessment. Aggregated data will include the total number of stroke events, time to occurrence, and any associated patient outcomes (e.g., mortality, disability).
Time frame: From date of enrollment until the date of first documented Stroke event or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 6 months
Dose appropriateness
This measure will evaluate the dose appropriateness of apixaban and warfarin in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) on dialysis. For apixaban, dose appropriateness will be assessed based on FDA dosing guidelines for patients with renal impairment, including dosage adjustments for specific clinical factors (e.g., age, weight, and concurrent medications). For warfarin, dose appropriateness will be evaluated using the target International Normalized Ratio (INR) range for stroke prevention or VTE management. The data will be aggregated and reported as the number and percentage of patients receiving guideline-concordant doses. In cases where dosing is not appropriate, discrepancies will be documented and analyzed.
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Time frame: Up to 6 months