Comparing the risk of dementia in subjects with atrial fibrillation using non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants versus vitamin K antagonists: a Belgian nationwide cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with cognitive decline, with anticoagulated subjects potentially having a reduced risk compared with non-anticoagulated subjects. However, whether non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) may reduce the risk of dementia compared with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) is unclear yet. Therefore, the risk of dementia was compared between AF subjects on NOACs versus VKAs.

Methods

AF subjects initiating anticoagulation between 2013 and 2019 were identified in Belgian nationwide data. Inverse probability of treatment weighted Cox regression was used to investigate cognitive outcomes.

Results

Among 237,012 AF subjects (310,850 person-years (PYs)), NOAC use was associated with a significantly lower risk of dementia (adj

SUBMITTER: Grymonprez M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10024890 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature