Skip to main content
. 2021 Aug 27;111(1):1–13. doi: 10.1007/s00392-021-01930-y

Table 2.

Characteristics of HF populations in non-vitamin K oral anticoagulant approval trials for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation

RE-LY [21] ROCKET-AF [22] ARISTOTLE [23] ENGAGE-AF [24]
Comparator to VKA Dabigatran Rivaroxaban Apixaban Edoxaban
Standard dose

150 mg twice daily

110 mg twice daily

20 mg once daily 5 mg twice daily 60 mg once daily
Reduced dose 15 mg once daily 2.5 mg twice daily 30 mg once daily
Dose reduction criteria 1:1:1 randomised to either dose or VKA creatinine clearance 30–49 mL/min at least two criteria: At least one criterion:
 Age ≥ 80 years  Estimated creatinine clearance 30–50 mL/min
 Body weight < 60 kg  Body weight ≤ 60 kg
 Serum creatinine ≥ 1.5 mg/dL  concomitant use: ciclo-sporine, dronedarone, ery-thromycin, or ketoconazole
Patients with heart failure (n) 4904 (27% of trial patients) 9033 (64% of trial patients) 5943 (33% of trial patients) 8145 (58% of trial patients)
Definition of heart failure Presence of NYHA class ≥ II symptoms (fatigue, dyspnoea) in the 6 months prior to screening in patients with a history of previous admission for congestive HF. Information on LV-EF was only available in 59% of HF patients History of HF or LV-EF < 40% symptomatic congestive HF within 3 months or LV-dysfunction with an EF ≤ 40% previous history of HF stage C or D according to AHA/ACC. LV-EF was available in 79% of HF patients
Patients with reduced LV-EF

1258

(26% of HF population)

2497

(27% of HF population)

2736

(46% of HF population)

3103/21,105

(38% of HF population)

Definition of reduced LV-EF  ≤ 40%  < 40%  ≤ 40%  < 50%
Mean age in HF population (years) 68 72 69 70
CHADS2 in HF population 2.6 ± 1.1 3.7 ± 0.9 2.4 ± 1.1 3.0 ± 1.0
Definition of primary safety endpoint Major bleeding by study definition [21] Composite of major and non-major clinically relevant bleeding by study definition [22] Major bleeding defined by ISTH criteria [29] Major bleeding defined by ISTH criteria [29]

CHADS2 score to predict annual stroke risk in atrial fibrillation [45], HF heart failure, ISTH International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, LV-EF left-ventricular ejection fraction, VKA vitamin K antagonist