Pulmonary vascular disease & thromboembolismMeta-analysis

Comparing Anticoagulation Strategies for Venous Thromboembolism Associated With Active Cancer

JACC CardioOncolPublished

  • Systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised trials
  • random-effects models

Authors' conclusion

DOACs demonstrate comparable efficacy but exhibit different safety profiles. Apixaban may confer an antithrombotic benefit without an increased risk for bleeding, distinguishing it from other contemporary anticoagulation strategies in patients with active cancer and VTE.

Study context

Population
Patients with active cancer and venous thromboembolism (VTE)
Participants
6,623 patients · 17 RCTs
Comparison
DOACs vs VKA vs parenteral anticoagulation

Pooled result

As reported in the abstract

Recurrent VTE, PE and DVT among DOACs
  • No significant differences among the DOACs for efficacy outcomes (recurrent VTE, PE, DVT)

Further pooled results

OutcomeHR (95% CI)
Recurrent VTE vs parenteral anticoagulation0.60 (0.38–0.93)

Safety

OutcomeHR (95% CI)
Major bleeding0.38 (0.15–0.93)
CRNMB — Edoxaban vs Rivaroxaban0.31 (0.10–0.91)
CRNMB — Rivaroxaban vs Parenteral anticoagulation3.76 (1.43–9.88)
Major bleeding or CRNMB1.35 (1.02–1.79)

Major bleeding

Apixaban similarly safe vs dabigatran and rivaroxaban

Clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding (CRNMB)

Edoxaban similarly safe vs apixaban

Major bleeding or CRNMB

Apixaban vs parenteral anticoagulation: no increase in bleeding

Original publication

Comparing Anticoagulation Strategies for Venous Thromboembolism Associated With Active Cancer. JACC CardioOncol. Published 9 January 2024. doi:10.1016/j.jaccao.2023.10.009

Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it