Observational studyCMAJ open
Comparative effectiveness and safety of direct oral anticoagulants versus vitamin K antagonists in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: a Canadian multicentre observational cohort study.
Registry-linked trialOpen access · diamondAbstract readComparative StudyMulticenter StudyObservational Study
In one paragraph
Observational study in CMAJ open. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT03596502 (Safety and Effectiveness of Direct Oral Anticoagulants for Stroke Prevention in Non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation), which is not on this map. Cited by 16 papers.
0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
16citing papers in PubMed
1.9field-weighted citation impact, top 11% of its field
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Safety and Effectiveness of Direct Oral Anticoagulants for Stroke Prevention in Non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation: a Multi-database Cohort Study With Meta-analysis (DOACs vs Warfarin)
Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 28 citations in OpenAlex.
- Article
- Impact of Direct Oral Anticoagulant Uptake on Hospitalizations for Stroke/Transient Ischemic Attack, Intracranial Hemorrhage, and Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Individuals With Atrial Fibrillation: A Population-Based Study.Fundamental & clinical pharmacology · 2025Article
- Stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: A narrative review of current evidence and emerging strategies.European journal of clinical investigation · 2025Review
- Comparative clinical outcomes of acenocoumarol versus direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation: real-world-evidence (SIESTA-A study).Frontiers in pharmacology · 2025Article
- Innovations in pharmacovigilance studies of medicines in older people.British journal of clinical pharmacology · 2025Review
- Efficacy and safety of direct oral anticoagulants versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation and liver disease: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.Archives of medical sciences. Atherosclerotic diseases · 2025Review
- Risk of mortality between warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants: population-based cohort studies.BMC medicine · 2024Article
- More early bleeds associated with high baseline direct oral anticoagulant levels in atrial fibrillation: the MAS study.Blood advances · 2024Observational
- Development and Application of an Attribute-Based Taxonomy on the Benefits of Oral Anticoagulant Switching in Atrial Fibrillation: A Delphi Study.Advances in therapy · 2024Article
- Thrombotic events associated with low baseline direct oral anticoagulant levels in atrial fibrillation: the MAS study.Blood advances · 2024Observational
- Deciphering the Dilemma: Anticoagulation for Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF).Cureus · 2023Review
- Anticoagulation in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien · 2023Article
- Article
- Time to invest in team-based care.Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien · 2023Article
- Effectiveness and safety of oral anticoagulants for non-valvular atrial fibrillation: a population-based cohort study in primary healthcare in Catalonia.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2023Article
- Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
14 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Madeleine DurandInternal Medicine Service (Durand), Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) and CHUM Research Centre (Durand); Faculty of Pharmacy (Schnitzer) and Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (Schnitzer), Université de Montréal; Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health (Schnitzer, Pang, Filion, Renoux), Medicine (Filion) and Neurology and Neurosurgery (Renoux), McGill University, Montréal, Que.; Departments of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Carney, Fisher), Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC; College of Pharmacy (Eltonsy, Kuo), Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology (Filion, Renoux), Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Que.; The George Institute for Global Health (Jun), University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; ICES Central (Paterson); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Paterson), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Health Quality Council (Quail) and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Quail), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask.; Cardiology Service (Matteau), CHUM and CHUM Research Centre, Montréal, Que. madeleine.durand.chum@ssss.gouv.qc.ca.
Mireille E SchnitzerInternal Medicine Service (Durand), Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) and CHUM Research Centre (Durand); Faculty of Pharmacy (Schnitzer) and Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (Schnitzer), Université de Montréal; Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health (Schnitzer, Pang, Filion, Renoux), Medicine (Filion) and Neurology and Neurosurgery (Renoux), McGill University, Montréal, Que.; Departments of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Carney, Fisher), Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC; College of Pharmacy (Eltonsy, Kuo), Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology (Filion, Renoux), Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Que.; The George Institute for Global Health (Jun), University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; ICES Central (Paterson); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Paterson), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Health Quality Council (Quail) and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Quail), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask.; Cardiology Service (Matteau), CHUM and CHUM Research Centre, Montréal, Que.
Menglan PangInternal Medicine Service (Durand), Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) and CHUM Research Centre (Durand); Faculty of Pharmacy (Schnitzer) and Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (Schnitzer), Université de Montréal; Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health (Schnitzer, Pang, Filion, Renoux), Medicine (Filion) and Neurology and Neurosurgery (Renoux), McGill University, Montréal, Que.; Departments of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Carney, Fisher), Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC; College of Pharmacy (Eltonsy, Kuo), Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology (Filion, Renoux), Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Que.; The George Institute for Global Health (Jun), University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; ICES Central (Paterson); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Paterson), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Health Quality Council (Quail) and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Quail), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask.; Cardiology Service (Matteau), CHUM and CHUM Research Centre, Montréal, Que.
Greg CarneyInternal Medicine Service (Durand), Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) and CHUM Research Centre (Durand); Faculty of Pharmacy (Schnitzer) and Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (Schnitzer), Université de Montréal; Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health (Schnitzer, Pang, Filion, Renoux), Medicine (Filion) and Neurology and Neurosurgery (Renoux), McGill University, Montréal, Que.; Departments of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Carney, Fisher), Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC; College of Pharmacy (Eltonsy, Kuo), Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology (Filion, Renoux), Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Que.; The George Institute for Global Health (Jun), University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; ICES Central (Paterson); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Paterson), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Health Quality Council (Quail) and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Quail), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask.; Cardiology Service (Matteau), CHUM and CHUM Research Centre, Montréal, Que.
Sherif EltonsyInternal Medicine Service (Durand), Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) and CHUM Research Centre (Durand); Faculty of Pharmacy (Schnitzer) and Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (Schnitzer), Université de Montréal; Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health (Schnitzer, Pang, Filion, Renoux), Medicine (Filion) and Neurology and Neurosurgery (Renoux), McGill University, Montréal, Que.; Departments of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Carney, Fisher), Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC; College of Pharmacy (Eltonsy, Kuo), Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology (Filion, Renoux), Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Que.; The George Institute for Global Health (Jun), University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; ICES Central (Paterson); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Paterson), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Health Quality Council (Quail) and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Quail), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask.; Cardiology Service (Matteau), CHUM and CHUM Research Centre, Montréal, Que.
Kristian B FilionInternal Medicine Service (Durand), Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) and CHUM Research Centre (Durand); Faculty of Pharmacy (Schnitzer) and Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (Schnitzer), Université de Montréal; Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health (Schnitzer, Pang, Filion, Renoux), Medicine (Filion) and Neurology and Neurosurgery (Renoux), McGill University, Montréal, Que.; Departments of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Carney, Fisher), Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC; College of Pharmacy (Eltonsy, Kuo), Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology (Filion, Renoux), Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Que.; The George Institute for Global Health (Jun), University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; ICES Central (Paterson); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Paterson), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Health Quality Council (Quail) and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Quail), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask.; Cardiology Service (Matteau), CHUM and CHUM Research Centre, Montréal, Que.
Anat FisherInternal Medicine Service (Durand), Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) and CHUM Research Centre (Durand); Faculty of Pharmacy (Schnitzer) and Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (Schnitzer), Université de Montréal; Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health (Schnitzer, Pang, Filion, Renoux), Medicine (Filion) and Neurology and Neurosurgery (Renoux), McGill University, Montréal, Que.; Departments of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Carney, Fisher), Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC; College of Pharmacy (Eltonsy, Kuo), Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology (Filion, Renoux), Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Que.; The George Institute for Global Health (Jun), University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; ICES Central (Paterson); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Paterson), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Health Quality Council (Quail) and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Quail), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask.; Cardiology Service (Matteau), CHUM and CHUM Research Centre, Montréal, Que.
Min JunInternal Medicine Service (Durand), Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) and CHUM Research Centre (Durand); Faculty of Pharmacy (Schnitzer) and Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (Schnitzer), Université de Montréal; Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health (Schnitzer, Pang, Filion, Renoux), Medicine (Filion) and Neurology and Neurosurgery (Renoux), McGill University, Montréal, Que.; Departments of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Carney, Fisher), Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC; College of Pharmacy (Eltonsy, Kuo), Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology (Filion, Renoux), Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Que.; The George Institute for Global Health (Jun), University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; ICES Central (Paterson); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Paterson), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Health Quality Council (Quail) and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Quail), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask.; Cardiology Service (Matteau), CHUM and CHUM Research Centre, Montréal, Que.
I Fan KuoInternal Medicine Service (Durand), Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) and CHUM Research Centre (Durand); Faculty of Pharmacy (Schnitzer) and Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (Schnitzer), Université de Montréal; Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health (Schnitzer, Pang, Filion, Renoux), Medicine (Filion) and Neurology and Neurosurgery (Renoux), McGill University, Montréal, Que.; Departments of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Carney, Fisher), Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC; College of Pharmacy (Eltonsy, Kuo), Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology (Filion, Renoux), Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Que.; The George Institute for Global Health (Jun), University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; ICES Central (Paterson); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Paterson), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Health Quality Council (Quail) and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Quail), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask.; Cardiology Service (Matteau), CHUM and CHUM Research Centre, Montréal, Que.
Christel RenouxInternal Medicine Service (Durand), Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) and CHUM Research Centre (Durand); Faculty of Pharmacy (Schnitzer) and Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (Schnitzer), Université de Montréal; Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health (Schnitzer, Pang, Filion, Renoux), Medicine (Filion) and Neurology and Neurosurgery (Renoux), McGill University, Montréal, Que.; Departments of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Carney, Fisher), Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC; College of Pharmacy (Eltonsy, Kuo), Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology (Filion, Renoux), Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Que.; The George Institute for Global Health (Jun), University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; ICES Central (Paterson); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Paterson), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Health Quality Council (Quail) and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Quail), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask.; Cardiology Service (Matteau), CHUM and CHUM Research Centre, Montréal, Que.
J Michael PatersonInternal Medicine Service (Durand), Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) and CHUM Research Centre (Durand); Faculty of Pharmacy (Schnitzer) and Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (Schnitzer), Université de Montréal; Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health (Schnitzer, Pang, Filion, Renoux), Medicine (Filion) and Neurology and Neurosurgery (Renoux), McGill University, Montréal, Que.; Departments of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Carney, Fisher), Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC; College of Pharmacy (Eltonsy, Kuo), Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology (Filion, Renoux), Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Que.; The George Institute for Global Health (Jun), University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; ICES Central (Paterson); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Paterson), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Health Quality Council (Quail) and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Quail), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask.; Cardiology Service (Matteau), CHUM and CHUM Research Centre, Montréal, Que.
Jacqueline QuailInternal Medicine Service (Durand), Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) and CHUM Research Centre (Durand); Faculty of Pharmacy (Schnitzer) and Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (Schnitzer), Université de Montréal; Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health (Schnitzer, Pang, Filion, Renoux), Medicine (Filion) and Neurology and Neurosurgery (Renoux), McGill University, Montréal, Que.; Departments of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Carney, Fisher), Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC; College of Pharmacy (Eltonsy, Kuo), Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology (Filion, Renoux), Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Que.; The George Institute for Global Health (Jun), University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; ICES Central (Paterson); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Paterson), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Health Quality Council (Quail) and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Quail), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask.; Cardiology Service (Matteau), CHUM and CHUM Research Centre, Montréal, Que.
Alexis MatteauInternal Medicine Service (Durand), Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM) and CHUM Research Centre (Durand); Faculty of Pharmacy (Schnitzer) and Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (Schnitzer), Université de Montréal; Departments of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health (Schnitzer, Pang, Filion, Renoux), Medicine (Filion) and Neurology and Neurosurgery (Renoux), McGill University, Montréal, Que.; Departments of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Carney, Fisher), Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC; College of Pharmacy (Eltonsy, Kuo), Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man.; Centre for Clinical Epidemiology (Filion, Renoux), Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, Que.; The George Institute for Global Health (Jun), University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; ICES Central (Paterson); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Paterson), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Health Quality Council (Quail) and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology (Quail), University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask.; Cardiology Service (Matteau), CHUM and CHUM Research Centre, Montréal, Que.
Canadian Network for Observational Drug Effect Studies Investigators
The George Institute for Global Health · AUCentre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal · CA
Funding
CIHR
Abstract
backgroundDirect oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have widely replaced warfarin for stroke prevention in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Our objective was to compare the safety and effectiveness of DOACs (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban) versus warfarin for stroke prevention in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation in the Canadian setting.
methodsWe conducted a population-based observational multicentre cohort study with propensity score matching and subsequent meta-analysis. We used health care databases from 7 Canadian provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia). Patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who initiated anticoagulation therapy in 2009-2017 were matched to an equal number who initiated warfarin. The primary outcome was the pooled hazard ratio (HR) for ischemic stroke or systemic embolization. Secondary outcomes included pooled HRs for major bleeding; a composite outcome of stroke, systemic embolization, major bleeding and all-cause mortality; and myocardial infarction. We modelled HRs using proportional hazard Cox regression with inverse probability of censoring weights, and estimated pooled HRs with random-effect meta-analyses.
resultsWe included 128 273 patients who initiated anticoagulation with a DOAC (40 503 dabigatran, 49 498 rivaroxaban and 38 272 apixaban) and 128 273 patients who initiated anticoagulation with warfarin. The pooled HR for ischemic stroke or systemic embolization comparing DOACs to warfarin was 1.02 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.87 to 1.19). Direct oral anticoagulants were associated with lower rates of major bleeding (pooled HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.97), the composite outcome (pooled HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.89) and all-cause mortality (pooled HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.85).
interpretationIn this real-world study, DOACs were associated with similar risks of ischemic stroke or systemic embolization, and lower risks of bleeding and total mortality compared to warfarin. These findings support the use of DOACs for anticoagulation in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.
trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, no. NCT03596502.
Indexed as
Administration, OralAgedAnticoagulantsAtrial FibrillationCanadaCause of DeathDabigatranDatabases, FactualEmbolismFemaleHemorrhageHumansMaleMeta-Analysis as TopicMortalityMyocardial InfarctionAnticoagulantsapixabanDabigatranPyrazolesPyridonesRivaroxabanVitamin KWarfarin
Identifiers
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Registered trials
NCT03596502ClinicalTrials.gov
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.