Table 1. Pivotal randomized trials comparing NOAC's with warfarin for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Trial	Study drug	No.	Mean CHA2DS2-VASc score	Outcome
RE-LY6)	Dabigatran	18,113	2.2	Lower rates of stroke and systemic embolism with dabigatran but similar rates of major hemorrhage
ROCKET AF7)	Rivaroxaban	14,246	3.5	Rivaroxaban was noninferior to warfarin for the prevention of stroke or systemic embolism
				There was no difference in the risk of major bleeding; intracranial and fatal bleeding however occurred less frequently in the rivaroxaban group
ARISTOTLE8)	Apixaban	18,201	2.1	Apixaban was superior to warfarin in preventing stroke or systemic embolism, and caused less bleeding and was associated with lower mortality
ENGAGE AF9)	Edoxaban	21,105	2.8	Edoxaban was noninferior to warfarin with respect to the prevention of stroke or systemic embolism and was associated with lower rates of bleeding and death from cardiovascular causes

ARISTOTLE = apixaban for reduction in stroke and other thromboembolic events in atrial fibrillation; ENGAGE AF= effective anticoagulation with factor Xa next generation in atrial fibrillation; NOAC = novel oral anticoagulants; RE-LY= Randomized Evaluation of Long-term anticoagulant therapY; ROCKET AF = rivaroxaban once daily oral direct factor Xa inhibition compared with vitamin K antagonism for prevention of stroke and embolism trial in atrial fibrillation.