Why carry out this study?

Little is known about the persistence, efficacy, and safety of apixaban in patients with atrial fibrillation in real life.

This study prospectively studied adherence, reasons for discontinuation, and events of patients with atrial fibrillation that were prescribed apixaban.

What was learned from the study?

A total of 1349 patients were treated with apixaban and followed up at 3 and 12 months. Inappropriate underdosing of apixaban was observed in 22.3%, mostly in elderly patients with higher HAS-BLED Score and a history of bleeding. Persistence to apixaban after 1 year was 88.6%. Switching to other NOACs or VKAs occurred in 5.1%. After 12 months all-cause mortality was 5.0%, non-fatal stroke occurred in 0.4%, non-fatal myocardial infarction in 0.6%, ISTH major bleeding in 0.8%, moderate or minor bleeding in 4.3% of patients, respectively.

Therefore the results from the randomized trials with apixaban can be translated to its performance in real life.