Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39666256›Full record

Observational studyClinical drug investigation2025

Phenotypes of Patients with Direct Oral Anticoagulant (DOAC) Underdosing in Atrial Fibrillation: Results from the ARENA Registry.

Christine Brockmüller, Andreas D Meid, Jochen Senges, Matthias Hochadel, Walter E Haefeli, Felicitas Stoll

Registry-linked trialAbstract readMulticenter StudyObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Clinical drug investigation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT02978248 (Af Register RhEin NeckAr - Projekt Vorhofflimmern Rhein Neckar), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

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.

2 · The registry

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.

NCT02978248 completednot on this map

Af Register RhEin NeckAr - Projekt Vorhofflimmern Rhein Neckar

Typeobservational_patient_registrySponsorStiftung Institut fuer HerzinfarktforschungRan2016 to 2021Enrolled2,777ConditionsAtrial Fibrillation
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Christine BrockmüllerInternal Medicine IX - Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
Andreas D MeidInternal Medicine IX - Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
Jochen SengesInstitute for Myocardial Infarction Research, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
Matthias HochadelInstitute for Myocardial Infarction Research, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
Walter E HaefeliInternal Medicine IX - Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
Felicitas StollInternal Medicine IX - Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacoepidemiology, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 410, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. felicitas.stoll@med.uni-heidelberg.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3005-0546

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesOral anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation is crucial to prevent thrombus formation in the heart, a major cause of ischemic stroke. The appropriate dose of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) - either standard or reduced dose - must be chosen individually in accordance with defined patient characteristics. However, a significant proportion of patients receive inappropriately low DOAC doses (underdosing). With a novel medication-based approach, this study aims to facilitate the identification of patients at risk of DOAC underdosing.

methodsThe prospective ARENA registry is a multi-centre study on patients with atrial fibrillation in Germany. Patients gave detailed information on medication, including over-the-counter preparations. Medication data were grouped according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification. In a bivariate analysis, the characteristics of patients on an appropriate versus inappropriate dose were compared (n = 866). To further evaluate variables for their association with underdosing, a model based on ATC third level medication data complemented with dose-adjustment criteria and validated clinical scores in all patients with complete information was built (n = 504).

resultsIn 15% of patients, an inappropriately low dose was found. The number of DOAC drug interactions, concomitant antiplatelet therapy and the total drug count were the most important predictors of DOAC underdosing. Mineral supplements and better health-related quality of life (HrQoL) were predictive of correct DOAC dosing, among others.

conclusionsMedication-related data showed to be predictive of DOAC underdosing. Clinicians should check for inappropriately reduced DOAC doses, especially in patients undergoing antiplatelet therapy, polypharmacy and reduced HrQoL. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02978248; date of registration: 30 November 2016.

Indexed as

AnticoagulantsAtrial FibrillationAdministration, OralAgedAged, 80 and overDose-Response Relationship, DrugFemaleGermanyHumansMaleMiddle AgedPhenotypeProspective StudiesRegistriesAnticoagulants

Identifiers

PMID39666256
PMCPMC11757868

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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.