 |
|
Fixed Minidose Warfarin and Aspirin Alone and in Combination vs Adjusted-Dose Warfarin for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation
Second Copenhagen Atrial Fibrillation, Aspirin, and Anticoagulation Study
Annette Lemche Gulløv, MD;
Birgitte Gade Koefoed, MD;
Palle Petersen, MD, DMSc;
Trine Sander Pedersen, MD;
Ellen Damgaard Andersen, MD;
John Godtfredsen, MD, DMSc;
Gudrun Boysen, MD, DMSc
Arch Intern Med. 1998;158:1513-1521.
ABSTRACT
| |
Background Despite the efficacy of warfarin sodium therapy for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation, many physicians hesitate to prescribe it to elderly patients because of the risk for bleeding complications and because of inconvenience for the patients.
Methods The Second Copenhagen Atrial Fibrillation, Aspirin, and Anticoagulation Study was a randomized, controlled trial examining the following therapies: warfarin sodium, 1.25 mg/d; warfarin sodium, 1.25 mg/d, plus aspirin, 300 mg/d; and aspirin, 300 mg/d. These were compared with adjusted-dose warfarin therapy (international normalized ratio of prothrombin time [INR], 2.0-3.0). Stroke or a systemic thromboembolic event was the primary outcome event. Transient ischemic attack, acute myocardial infarction, and death were secondary events. Data were handled as survival data, and risk factors were identified using the Cox proportional hazards model. The trial was scheduled for 6 years from May 1, 1993, but due to scientific evidence of inefficiency of low-intensity warfarin plus aspirin therapy from another study, our trial was prematurely terminated on October 2, 1996.
Results We included 677 patients (median age, 74 years). The cumulative primary event rate after 1 year was 5.8% in patients receiving minidose warfarin; 7.2%, warfarin plus aspirin; 3.6%, aspirin; and 2.8%, adjusted-dose warfarin (P=.67). After 3 years, no difference among the groups was seen. Major bleeding events were rare.
Conclusions Although the difference was insignificant, adjusted-dose warfarin seemed superior to minidose warfarin and to warfarin plus aspirin after 1 year of treatment. The results do not justify a change in the current recommendation of adjusted-dose warfarin (INR, 2.0-3.0) for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation.
INTRODUCTION
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION is associated with an overall risk for ischemic stroke of 4.5% per year, which is about 6 times the risk with sinus rhythm.1-2 Seven randomized studies have shown that adjusted-dose oral anticoagulant therapy is effective for primary and secondary prevention of thromboembolic events in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.3-9 Therefore, anticoagulant therapy with the intensity of the international normalized ratio of prothrombin time (INR) of 2.0 to 3.0 is recommended.10 Antiplatelet therapy seems less effective.
Despite the efficacy of warfarin therapy, many physicians hesitate to prescribe the anticoagulant to patients with atrial fibrillation, probably because of the risk for bleeding complications, inconvenience for the patients, and expected poor compliance in elderly patients.11-15 The safety and tolerability of long-term oral anticoagulation therapy is not entirely clear in elderly patients, who have the highest risk for stroke11 and may have an increased risk for bleeding complications.16
Studies on antiplatelet therapy and less intense oral anticoagulation strategies have been conducted to diminish the risk for bleeding and to make frequent monitoring unnecessary.17-21 The Second Copenhagen Atrial Fibrillation, Aspirin, and Anticoagulation (AFASAK 2) Study was designed in 1992 to investigate the effect of minidose warfarin alone and in combination with aspirin in patients with chronic nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.17 On October 2, 1996, the trial was stopped prematurely due to the results of another randomized clinical trial18 indicating that low-intensity warfarin plus aspirin therapy was significantly less effective than adjusted-dose warfarin therapy, and due to other studies indicating that anticoagulation therapy below the INR of 2.0 is inefficient for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation.19-20
PATIENTS AND METHODS
The AFASAK 2 Study was a randomized, controlled trial conducted from a single center recruiting outpatients with chronic atrial fibrillation. The design and methods have been described elsewhere.17
ELIGIBILITY
Patients 18 years or older with nonvalvular chronic atrial fibrillation were eligible. Before randomization, atrial fibrillation had to be documented twice using electrocardiography (ECG), with an interval of at least 1 month.
Patients younger than 60 years with lone atrial fibrillation (ie, with no underlying ischemic or hypertensive heart disease, congestive heart failure, hyperthyroidism, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) were excluded, along with patients with systolic or diastolic blood pressure above 180/100 mm Hg, stroke, or a transient ischemic attack (TIA) within 6 months; risk factors for bleeding; or contraindications for warfarin or aspirin therapy. Patients already receiving adjusted-dose warfarin were also ineligible.
Participants were recruited from general practices in Copenhagen, Denmark, and the surrounding areas. Before randomization, patients were interviewed and examined by 1 of 3 investigators. Baseline characteristics were recorded in standardized case record forms.17
RANDOMIZATION AND STUDY TREATMENTS
According to computer-generated randomization, eligible patients were assigned to daily treatment with warfarin sodium, 1.25 mg/d; warfarin sodium, 1.25 mg/d, plus aspirin, 300 mg/d; aspirin, 300 mg/d; or adjusted-dose warfarin with an INR of 2.0 to 3.0. Warfarin (Marevan tablets of 2.5 and 1.25 mg) and aspirin (Hjertemagnyl, nonenteric coated tablets of 150 mg) were supplied by Nycomed DAK A/S, Roskilde, Denmark. The treatment was not blinded to the patients and the investigators. Discontinuation of study treatment was allowed for a maximum of 4 weeks per year.
THERAPY MONITORING
Treatment with adjusted-dose warfarin sodium was generally initiated with a loading dose of 10 mg. During the first week of therapy, the intensity of anticoagulation therapy was monitored using INR on 5 consecutive days, and dose adjustments were made to achieve INR of 2.0 to 3.0. For the following 3 weeks, INR was monitored once a week. When stable anticoagulant therapy was achieved, INR determinations were performed with a maximum interval of 4 weeks.
Until December 31, 1995, the level of anticoagulation in patients assigned to minidose warfarin and combined minidose warfarin and aspirin therapies was monitored twice during the first week, once a week for the following 3 weeks, and then once every 4 weeks. From January 1, 1996, the INRs in patients receiving warfarin sodium, 1.25 mg/d, were monitored only once every 3 months after an introduction of 3 months. Aspirin therapy was not monitored using blood tests.
The patients were free to choose among 12 laboratories, including the AFASAK 2 Study center. Blood samples were analyzed using 1 of several commercially available automatic coagulation analyzers (Nycomatic, Nycomed Pharma A/S; Thrombolyser, Behringwerke AG, Marburg, Germany; and ACL 200, Instrumentation Laboratory, Milan, Italy). Two commercially available thromboplastins were used (Nycotest PT, Nycomed Pharma A/S, with an international sensitivity index of 0.97; SPA, Diagnostica Stago, Asnieres sur-Seine, France, with an international sensitivity index of 1.04).
FOLLOW-UP
Patients receiving treatment also underwent physical examinations 3 and 6 months after inclusion, and then at 6-month intervals until termination of the trial. By the end of the trial, all randomized patients were contacted to obtain information on outcome events that might have occurred since the last visit at the laboratory technician's or physician's office in the study center or after discontinuation of the study treatment.
OUTCOME EVENTS
The primary event was a stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) or a systemic thromboembolic event. Stroke was defined as acute onset of a focal neurological deficit of presumed vascular genesis lasting for 24 hours or more. Traumatic intracranial hemorrhage was considered an adverse event and not a primary outcome. To grade the severity of stroke, all events were reassessed after 1 month. The events were graded as minor, nondisabling, disabling, or fatal.
Systemic thromboembolic events in extremities, kidneys, mesenteric arteries, lungs, spleen, retina, or grafts were also primary outcome events and had to be verified using angiography, surgery, scintigraphy, or autopsy.
The secondary events of the trial were acute myocardial infarction (AMI), TIA, and death not due to other end points. The diagnosis of AMI required any 2 of the following criteria: history of typical chest pain, serial creatine kinase-MB changes typical of AMI, or ECG changes typical of AMI. A TIA was defined as acute onset of focal neurological deficit of presumed vascular genesis lasting less than 24 hours, regardless of computed tomographic or magnetic resonance imaging findings. Death was classified as vascular, nonvascular, or unknown (ie, unexpected death without subsequent autopsy).
All endpoints were evaluated by an end-point committee unaware of treatment status. The committee consisted of 2 neurologists and 2 cardiologists.
ADVERSE EVENTS
Hemorrhagic events were classified as minor or major. A major bleeding event was fatal, life-threatening, or potentially life-threatening, requiring surgical treatment or blood transfusion. All reports of major bleeding events were confirmed by hospital records. Minor bleeding events included overt or occult gastrointestinal tract bleeding, hemoptysis, gross hematuria, nose bleeding, bruising, symptomatic anemia ascribed to bleeding, and chronic bleeding with moderate loss of blood.
ETHICS
The study protocol was approved by the regional ethics committees and the Danish National Board of Health, and the trial was performed according to the Second Declaration of Helsinki. All patients received oral and written information about the background and procedures of the trial, and signed informed consent was obtained.
SAMPLE SIZE CALCULATION AND STOPPING RULES
For initial sample size calculations, the following assumptions were made: The risk for thromboembolic complications in atrial fibrillation was set to 1.67% per year during adjusted-dose warfarin therapy and to 3.33% per year during aspirin therapy. The risk due to minidose warfarin therapy was unknown but was expected to be lower than that due to aspirin therapy and higher than that due to adjusted-dose warfarin therapy. Provided there was uniform recruitment and distribution of patients among the 4 groups throughout the study, the null hypothesis could be tested with 80% power at a 5% significance level using 1-sided, 2-sample  2 test with an intake of 20 patients per month (ie, 1500 patients during 6 years). Using this sample size, a significant difference between the effects of aspirin and adjusted-dose warfarin was expected. The effect of minidose warfarin alone and in combination with aspirin should be compared with that of aspirin and adjusted-dose warfarin.
A group sequential analysis was scheduled after inclusion of 1200 patients, and the trial was to be terminated if 1 of the minidose warfarin regimens was significantly more effective than aspirin therapy or if both minidose warfarin regimens were significantly less effective than adjusted-dose warfarin therapy.
ANALYSES AND STATISTICS
Baseline comparisons among the 4 groups were performed using 2 test for categorical data and analysis of variance for continuous data.
The total number of patient-years at observation was calculated from the day of randomization to time of a primary or secondary outcome event or to the end of the trial. The number of thromboembolic events in patients who actually received the study medication are reported, along with the number of events that occurred after discontinuation of study therapy.
The primary analysis of the study was a calculation of the cumulative rate of outcome events in patients receiving treatment. For the 4 groups, the cumulative rates of total primary events and death were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method,22 and the log-rank statistics were used for comparison of the event rates.
Intention-to-treat analysis was performed to facilitate comparison of the rate of thromboembolic events in this and other studies. The rate is expressed as the number of events per patient-year (ie, from randomization to termination of the trial).
Times until dropout, withdrawal, primary event, bleeding event, and death were analyzed using the Cox regression model.23 Backward selection was used to identify significant risk factors. Dropout and withdrawal were regarded as censoring for all outcome variables. Secondary events were treated as censoring in the analysis of primary events and vice versa. Bleeding and other adverse events were included as time-dependent covariates in the analysis of primary events. For the calculation of bleeding rates, the time to the first hemorrhagic event was used. The INRs were calculated using linear interpolation for days where INR was not observed and consequently included as time-dependent covariates in the analysis of primary events and bleeding.
RESULTS
PATIENTS
Throughout the study, the recruitment was almost linear, with an intake of approximately 20 patients per month. To estimate the recruitment fraction, all ECGs showing atrial fibrillation during 9 months in 1993 were collected from the laboratory referring patients to the study. During this period, 560 patients with atrial fibrillation were registered. Of these patients, 193 (34.5%) accepted an examination by the investigators, 260 (46.4%) refused to participate, and 107 (19.1%) were excluded because of their medical history. Major reasons for exclusion in this subgroup were ongoing oral anticoagulant therapy in 45 patients (42.1%) and presumed increased risk for adverse events due to antithrombotic therapy in 33 patients (30.8%). Six patients (5.6%) did not fulfill the inclusion criterion, 4 (3.7%) had a concomitant disease, and 18 (16.8%) were excluded for other reasons. Finally, 133 patients were included, corresponding to 24% of the 560 invited patients or to 69% of the 193 patients accepting the health examination.
During the 42-month study, 887 patients were examined by the investigators, and 677 (76.3%) were included. Reasons for ineligibility in 210 patients are listed in the following tabulation:
Of the 677 eligible patients, 167 were allocated to minidose warfarin therapy; 171, to combined warfarin and aspirin therapy; 169, to aspirin therapy; and 170, to adjusted-dose warfarin therapy. During the trial, 58 patients (8.6%) dropped out, 112 (16.5%) were withdrawn, 39 (5.8%) had a primary adverse event, and 47 (6.9%) had a secondary adverse event. By the end of the trial, 421 (62.2%) of the randomized patients were receiving treatment and free of adverse events. All patients were available for follow-up.
BASELINE CHARACTERISTICS
Baseline data of the study population according to assigned treatment are listed in Table 1. Approximately one third of the patients had atrial fibrillation of recent onset (ie, within 1 year). At randomization, there was no statistical difference in the distribution of baseline data among the 4 groups except in respect to left ventricle fractional shortening, which was better in patients receiving aspirin (P=.01).
|
|
|
|
Table 1. Baseline Characteristics*
|
|
|
LEVEL OF ANTICOAGULATION
The median baseline INR of all randomized patients was 1.05 (range, 0.80-1.48), with no difference among the 4 groups (P=.31). After 1 month of treatment, the INR had increased significantly in all patients receiving warfarin in any dose and combination. In patients receiving minidose warfarin, median INR increased from 1.05 to 1.10 (range, 0.90-2.63; mean, 1.14 [SD=0.20]) (P<.001); in patients receiving combined warfarin and aspirin, from 1.04 to 1.11 (range, 0.99-2.33; mean, 1.12 [SD=0.22]) (P=.002); and in patients receiving adjusted-dose warfarin, from 1.11 to 2.20 (range, 1.11-4.60; mean, 2.33 [SD=0.66]) (P=.001).
The INRs of patients receiving adjusted-dose warfarin were within the range of 2.0 to 3.0 for 73% of the total time of treatment, above for 9%, and below for 18%. For 89% of the time, INRs were within the range of 1.8 to 3.2.
OUTCOME EVENTS
Primary Adverse Events
Thirty-nine primary thromboembolic events occurred in patients receiving treatment and 9 in patients not receiving treatment. The mean age of the patients was 76.5 (SD, 6.9) years. The events occurred from 3 to 983 (median, 291) days after randomization. In patients receiving any warfarin dose, no thromboembolic events occurred within the 2 weeks after randomization. The distribution of events in patients receiving treatment and after withdrawal is presented in Table 2.
|
|
|
|
Table 2. Primary and Secondary Adverse Events*
|
|
|
Stroke.
Thirty-seven patients suffered a stroke while receiving treatment. Seven strokes were categorized as minor, 13 as nondisabling, 13 as disabling, and 4 as fatal. Fatal stroke occurred in 2 patients receiving minidose warfarin and in 2 receiving aspirin. Patients with stroke underwent computed tomography, which showed ischemic infarction in 21, intracerebral hemorrhage in 2, and no lesion in 13. One patient did not undergo computed tomography.
Systemic Embolism.
Two patients receiving treatment had a systemic thromboembolic event, and both events were fatal. One had an acute arterial occlusion in a lower extremity, and one had mesenteric thrombosis (Table 2).
The number of patients at risk and the cumulative primary event rates after 1, 2, and 3 years are given in Table 3. There were no significant differences among the 4 groups (P=.67), but after 1 year of treatment, there was a trend toward a lower stroke rate in patients receiving adjusted-dose warfarin (2.8%; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 0.1%-5.4%) than in those receiving combined therapy (7.2%; 95% CI, 2.6%-11.8%). Odds ratios with 95% CI for primary events are presented in Figure 1, and plots of survival without a primary event are presented in Figure 2.
|
|
|
|
Table 3. Cumulative Rate of Primary Adverse Events*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Figure 1. Odds ratios for primary adverse events. INR indicates international normalized ratio of prothromin time; CI, confidence interval. Study groups are described in the first footnote to Table 1.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Figure 2. Survival without primary adverse event while receiving treatment (P=.67). INR indicates international normalized ratio of prothrombin time. Study groups are described in the first footnote to Table 1.
|
|
|
Using intention-to-treat analysis, the annual risk for a primary thromboembolic event was 3.9% (95% CI, 2.3%-6.6%) in patients receiving warfarin sodium, 1.25 mg/d; 3.2% (95% CI, 1.8%-5.6%), warfarin sodium, 1.25 mg/d, plus aspirin, 300 mg/d; 2.7% (95% CI, 1.5%-5.0%), aspirin, 300 mg/d; and 3.4% (95% CI, 1.9%-6.0%), adjusted-dose warfarin.
Risk factor analysis revealed that increasing age (P=.001), adverse reactions to the study treatments (P=.01), and previous MI (P=.04) were independent risk factors for stroke and systemic thromboembolism. Thus, sex; study medication; and history of stroke, diabetes, smoking, heart failure, and hypertension had no significant impact on the occurrence of primary outcome events. The significantly better fractional shortening in patients receiving aspirin may, however, have been a confounding factor for the relatively small number of thromboembolic events in these patients.
A total of 194 patients were younger than 75 years and had no history of hypertension, stroke, TIA, or diabetes. Three of the 38 low-risk patients receiving warfarin sodium, 1.25 mg; 1 of 54 receiving warfarin plus aspirin; none of 55 receiving aspirin; and 2 receiving adjusted-dose warfarin suffered a primary adverse event. The corresponding cumulative rates after 3 years were 9.7% (95% CI, 3.1%-29.9%), 2.6% (95% CI, 0.4%-18.2%), 0%, and 11.4% (95% CI, 2.9%-46.1%), respectively. Without respect to assigned treatment, the cumulative risk after 3 years was 5.3% (95% CI, 2.4%-11.9%) in low-risk patients.
Secondary Adverse Events
Forty-seven patients receiving treatment and 22 not receiving treatment had a secondary adverse event. The distribution of events according to assigned treatment appears in Table 2.
Myocardial Infarction.
Five patients receiving minidose warfarin, 2 receiving aspirin, and 3 receiving adjusted-dose warfarin had an MI. One patient receiving minidose warfarin and 1 receiving adjusted-dose warfarin died.
Transient Ischemic Attack.
Seven patients had a TIA. The distribution for the 4 groups is shown in Table 2.
Mortality.
Thirty patients receiving treatment died of causes other than thromboembolic events or AMI (Table 2).
In patients receiving treatment, vascular events accounted for 22 deaths (57.9%). Of these, 2 were due to MI, 4 to stroke, and 2 to systemic thromboembolism. Of 14 deaths unrelated to other primary and secondary adverse events, 4 were ascribed to congestive heart failure, 1 to a traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage, and 9 to sudden death. Nonvascular causes accounted for 6 secondary adverse events (15.8%). Of these, 4 events were ascribed to a malignant disease, 1 event to pneumonia, and 1 event to pulmonary insufficiency. In 10 patients (26.3%) who unexpectedly died at home, autopsy was not performed, and the cause of death remained unknown.
In patients receiving minidose warfarin, cumulative mortality after 1, 2, and 3 years was 2.9%, 3.9%, and 3.9% (95% CI, 0.5%-7.3%), respectively; in patients receiving combined warfarin and aspirin, 1.3%, 3.6%, and 5.9% (95% CI, 0.3%-11.5%), respectively; in patients receiving aspirin, 3.2%, 11.1%, and 13.4% (95% CI, 5.4%-21.4%), respectively; and in patients receiving adjusted-dose warfarin, 5.6%, 8.0%, and 10.3% (95% CI, 3.5%-17.1%), respectively (P=.27). Increasing age was the only independent risk factor for death (P=.003).
ADVERSE EVENTS AND DISCONTINUATION OF THERAPY
Hemorrhagic Events
A total of 130 patients experienced bleeding (Table 4). Thirteen major and 139 minor bleeding events were noted. In 3 patients, a major hemorrhagic event was proceeded by a minor event, and 16 patients had more than 1 minor bleeding event.
|
|
|
|
Table 4. Adverse Effects of Study Treatments*
|
|
|
Traumatic intracerebral bleeding occurred in 1 patient receiving minidose warfarin and in 1 receiving adjusted-dose warfarin. Furthermore, 1 patient receiving aspirin and 1 receiving adjusted-dose warfarin each had a spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.
The cumulative incidence of bleeding events after 3 years of treatment was 24.7% in patients receiving minidose warfarin; 24.4%, warfarin plus aspirin; 30.0%, aspirin; and 41.1%, adjusted-dose warfarin. The rate of bleeding was significantly higher in patients receiving adjusted-dose warfarin than in any of the other groups (P=.003), but the difference was ascribed only to a higher rate of minor bleeding. Adding ulcer dyspepsia and allergic reactions to the calculation, the cumulated rate of adverse events in patients receiving aspirin alone increased to 46.2% after 3 years (Table 4). Thus, adverse events occurred with the same rate in patients receiving adjusted-dose warfarin and those receiving aspirin, 300 mg/d. Adverse events occurred less frequently in patients receiving minidose warfarin alone and in combination with aspirin.
Risk factors for bleeding were previous MI (P=.001) and treatment with adjusted-dose warfarin (P=.001), with risk increasing proportionately with INR. Thus, arterial hypertension, previous stroke or TIA, smoking, and high age had no impact on this outcome.
INR Before Ischemic Stroke or Major Bleeding Event With Adjusted-Dose Warfarin
Of patients randomized to adjusted-dose warfarin therapy, 6 had an ischemic stroke and 4 had a major bleeding event while receiving the medication. For each patient, the last 3 INRs obtained in the study laboratory before the events are presented in Table 5. All patients with stroke had the last INR within the therapeutic range, and no major variations in the anticoagulation level were seen. Major bleeding events also occurred during stable anticoagulant therapy within or below the therapeutic level.
|
|
|
|
Table 5. INR Before Stroke or Major Bleeding Events in Patients Receiving Adjusted-Dose Warfarin*
|
|
|
Discontinuation of the Study Treatments
In 170 patients (25.1%), the study treatment was permanently discontinued for reasons other than primary and secondary adverse events. Of these, 58 (8.6%) dropped out, and 112 (16.5%) were withdrawn by the investigators. The reasons for withdrawal were adverse effects to the study treatment in 42, poor compliance in 18, prescription of adjusted-dose warfarin by other physicians in 17, permanent need of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug in 14, and miscellaneous in 19. The median age of all excluded patients was 76 years (range, 46-88 years), and the median time of participation to dropout or withdrawal was 171 days (range, 2-1134 days). Increasing age was an independent risk factor for dropout (P<.001), and high heart rate (P=.03), enlargement of the left atrium (P=.02), and low fractional shortening (P=.05) were independent risk factors for withdrawal.
COMMENT
As a relatively large number of patients were expected to drop out or to be withdrawn from the study with subsequent varying use of antithrombotics, the data of the AFASAK 2 Study were handled as survival data focusing on the cumulative rates of primary and secondary events in patients actually receiving the study medication.
In our study, there was no significant difference in the frequency of stroke, systemic thromboembolic events, AMI, TIA, or death among groups. However, the AFASAK 2 Study was underpowered due to the early termination after inclusion of only 45% of the estimated sample size, and, accordingly, the results should be interpreted with caution.
The rates of primary events of 7.2% for patients receiving combined warfarin and aspirin and 2.8% for those receiving adjusted-dose warfarin after 1 year in the AFASAK 2 Study are comparable to the annual rates of ischemic stroke and systemic embolism in the recent Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation III (SPAF III) randomized trial, where the effects of low-intensity warfarin therapy (INR, 1.2-1.5) plus aspirin, 325 mg/d, and adjusted-dose warfarin therapy (INR, 2.0-3.0) were investigated in high-risk patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.18 In the SPAF III trial, the annual rate of ischemic stroke and systemic embolism was 1.9% among patients receiving adjusted-dose warfarin and 7.9% among patients receiving combined therapy. After 3 years of treatment, however, the difference between patients receiving adjusted-dose warfarin and those receiving warfarin plus aspirin was less pronounced in our study than in the SPAF III trial.18 Due to the early termination of the AFASAK 2 Study, the significance of this finding will remain unknown.
The somewhat lower mean incidence of stroke and systemic embolism during combined warfarin and aspirin therapy in the AFASAK 2 Study than in the SPAF III trial18 is interesting, as the mean INR during combined warfarin and aspirin therapy was lower in our study than in the SPAF III trial (1.1 vs 1.3, after 1 month of therapy) and as 71.0% of the participants in the AFASAK 2 Study had at least 1 of the high-risk factors for stroke required for inclusion in the SPAF III high-risk group. The difference may be that the AFASAK 2 Study patients were outpatients recruited from general practice, whereas many SPAF III patients were recruited from hospitals.
In the recently published Studio Italiano Fibrillazione Atriale (SIFA) of indobufen vs warfarin therapy for secondary prevention of major vascular events in nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation, the combined incidence of nonfatal stroke, systemic embolism, MI, and death due to vascular events (after 1 year of follow-up) was 10.6% in the indobufen group and 9.0% in the warfarin group (probability of equivalence, P<.025).19 Because of the small absolute difference between the groups, these investigators suggested indobufen as an alternative antithrombotic treatment for patients with contraindications for warfarin therapy.
Like the SPAF III trial,9 the AFASAK 2 Study suggests aspirin as an alternative treatment for primary stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation for whom adjusted-dose warfarin therapy is inappropriate. Due to the significant superiority of adjusted-dose warfarin therapy compared with low-intensity, fixed-dose warfarin plus aspirin therapy in the SPAF III trial and the insignificant outcome of the AFASAK II Study, very-low-intensity warfarin plus aspirin therapy should not be used in patients with atrial fibrillation.
The antithrombotic treatments in the AFASAK 2 Study were safe in regard to bleeding and other adverse effects, and major bleeding events were equally distributed among the 4 groups. Neither combined warfarin-aspirin therapy nor adjusted-dose warfarin therapy caused more severe hemorrhages than minidose warfarin and aspirin given separately. Minor bleeding events, however, were significantly more frequent in patients assigned to adjusted-dose warfarin therapy than in any of the other groups.
In the AFASAK 2 Study, high age was a risk factor for stroke but not for bleeding events or withdrawal. Accordingly, we do not suggest that high age per se should contraindicate oral anticoagulant therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Several trials have convincingly shown that oral anticoagulant therapy with warfarin is effective for primary and secondary stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation. Concerning the optimal intensity of warfarin, more trials now indicate that warfarin given at an INR of less than 2.0 is not effective and that the optimal INR is from 2.0 to 3.0.18-19 The results of the AFASAK 2 Study do not justify a change in the present recommendations.
We suggest that future attempts to reduce the risk for stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation should focus on the arrhythmia per se to control the heart rate and to improve the left ventricular function and on optimizing the organization of oral anticoagulant therapy.
AUTHOR INFORMATION
Accepted for publication January 15, 1998.
This study was supported by grants from The Danish Heart Foundation, Copenhagen; Nycomed DAK A/S Roskilde, Denmark; Du Pont Pharma, Wilmington, Del; The Danish Foundation for Medical Research for the Region of Copenhagen, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland, Copenhagen; The Danish General Practitioners Foundation for the Municipalities of Copenhagen, Frederiksburg, and Dragør, Copenhagen; The Danish Medical Research Foundation, Copenhagen; the Sophus and Astrid Jacobsen Foundation, Virum, Denmark; The Jacob and Olga Madsen Foundation, Copenhagen; The Katherine and Vigo Skovgård Foundation, Roskilde, Denmark; The Danish National Stroke and Aphasis Foundation, Copenhagen; The Beckett Foundation, Copenhagen; The Leo Pharmaceuticals Research Foundation, Ballerup, Denmark; The Hede Nielsen Family Foundation, Copenhagen; The Director E. Danielsen Foundation, Lyngby, Denmark; The Therese Maria Hansen Grant, Bagsvaerd, Denmark; The Michael Hermann Nielsen Grant, Copenhagen; and The Mimi and Victor Larsen Foundation, Birkerod, Denmark.
We thank secretary Helle Vilhelmsen and laboratory technicians Käthe Rasmussen and Isabella Frederiksen for their enthusiastic work during the trial; the general practitioners in Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark, and the counties of Roskilde and Copenhagen for their cooperation; the staff and the laboratory technicians of Copenhagen General Practitioners Laboratory for accommodation and support; Sissel Vorstrup, MD, DMSc; Per Sidenius, MD, DMSc; Jan Kyst Madsen, MD, DMSc; and Jens Kastrup, MD, DMSc, for serving on the end-point committee; and Jørgen Hilden, MD; Kai Jensen, MD, DMSc; and Knud Skagen, MD, DMSc, for serving on the safety committee.
Reprints: Annette Lemche Gulløv, MD, Glostrup Hospital, Department of Rheumatology U, Glostrup Ringrej, DK-2600 Glostrup, Denmark (e-mail: gullov{at}dadlnet.dk).
From the Copenhagen General Practitioners Laboratory, (Drs Gulløv, Koefoed, Pedersen, and Andersen); the Division of Stroke, Medical Center, Hvidovre University Hospital (Dr Petersen); the Department of Cardiology, Herlev University Hospital (Dr Godtfredsen); and the Department of Neurology, Bispebjerg University Hospital (Dr Boysen), Copenhagen, Denmark.
REFERENCES
| |
1. Wolf PA, Abbott RD, Kannel WB. Atrial fibrillation as an independent risk factor for stroke: the Framingham Study. Stroke. 1991;22:983-988.
FREE FULL TEXT
2. Atrial Fibrillation Investigators. Risk factors for stroke and efficacy of antithrombotic therapy in atrial fibrillation: analysis of pooled data from five randomized controlled trials. Arch Intern Med. 1994;154:1449-1457.
FREE FULL TEXT
3. Petersen P, Godtfredsen J, Boysen G, Andersen ED, Andersen B. Placebo-controlled, randomized trial of warfarin and aspirin for prevention of thromboembolic complications in chronic atrial fibrillation: the Copenhagen AFASAK Study. Lancet. 1989;28:175-179.
4. The Boston Area Anticoagulation Trial for Atrial Fibrillation Investigators. The effect of low-dose warfarin on the risk of stroke in patients with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 1990;323:1505-1511.
ABSTRACT
5. Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation Investigators. Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation Study: final results. Circulation. 1991;84:527-539.
FREE FULL TEXT
6. Connolly SJ, Laupacis A, Gent M, et al. Canadian Atrial Fibrillation Anticoagulation (CAFA) Study. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1991;18:349-355.
ABSTRACT
7. Ezekowitz MD, Bridgers SL, James KE, et al. Warfarin in the prevention of stroke associated with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 1992;327:1406-1412.
ABSTRACT
8. EAFT (European Atrial Fibrillation) Study Group. Secondary prevention in non-rheumatic atrial fibrillation after transient ischemic attack or minor stroke. Lancet. 1993;342:1255-1262.
ISI
| PUBMED
9. Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation Investigators. Warfarin versus aspirin for prevention of thromboembolism in atrial fibrillation: Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation II Study. Lancet. 1994;343:687-691.
FULL TEXT
|
ISI
| PUBMED
10. Prystowsky EN, Benson W, Fuster V. Management of patients with atrial fibrillation. Circulation. 1996;93:1262-1277.
FREE FULL TEXT
11. Kutner M, Nixon G, Silverstone F. Physicians' attitudes toward oral anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents for stroke prevention in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation. Arch Intern Med. 1991;151:1950-1953.
FREE FULL TEXT
12. Lip GYH, Tean KN, Dunn F. Treatment of atrial fibrillation in a district general hospital. Br Heart J. 1994;71:92-95.
FREE FULL TEXT
13. McCrory DC, Matchar DB, Samsa G, Sanders LL, Prichett ELC. Physician attitudes about anticoagulation for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation in the elderly. Arch Intern Med. 1995;155:277-281.
FREE FULL TEXT
14. Whittle J, Wickenheiser L, Venditti LN. Is warfarin underused in the treatment of elderly persons with atrial fibrillation? Arch Intern Med. 1997;157:441-445.
FREE FULL TEXT
15. Stafford RS, Singer DE. National patterns of warfarin use in atrial fibrillation. Arch Intern Med. 1996;156:2537-2541.
FREE FULL TEXT
16. The Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation Investigators. Bleeding during antithrombotic therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation. Arch Intern Med. 1996;156:409-416.
FREE FULL TEXT
17. Koefoed BG, Gulløv AL, Petersen P. The second Copenhagen Atrial Fibrillation, Aspirin and Anticoagulant Therapy Study (AFASAK 2): methods and design. J Thromb Thrombolysis. 1995;2:125-130.
FULL TEXT
| PUBMED
18. Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation Investigators. Adjusted-dose warfarin versus low-intensity, fixed-dose warfarin plus aspirin for high-risk patients with atrial fibrillation: Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation III randomized clinical trial. Lancet. 1996;348:633-638.
FULL TEXT
|
ISI
| PUBMED
19. Hylek EM, Skatts SJ, Sheehan MA, Singer D. An analysis of the lowest effective intensity of prophylactic anticoagulation for patients with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 1996;335:540-546.
FREE FULL TEXT
20. The European Atrial Fibrillation Trial Study Group. Optimal oral anticoagulant therapy in patients with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation and recent ischemia. N Engl J Med. 1995;333:5-10.
FREE FULL TEXT
21. Morocutti C, Amabile G, Fattapposta F, et al. Indobufen versus warfarin in the secondary prevention of major vascular events in nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation. Stroke. 1997;28:1015-1021.
FREE FULL TEXT
22. Kaplan EL, Meier P. Nonparametric estimation from incomplete estimations. J Am Stat Assoc. 1958;53:457-481.
FULL TEXT
|
ISI
23. Cox D. Regression models and life-tables. J R Stat Soc B. 1972;34:187-220.
 CiteULike  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Digg  Reddit  Technorati  Twitter
What's this?
RELATED ARTICLE
Choice of Antithrombotic Therapy for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation: Warfarin, Aspirin, or Both?
Gregory W. Albers
Arch Intern Med. 1998;158(14):1487-1491.
EXTRACT
| FULL TEXT
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
|
Does the Combination of Warfarin and Aspirin Have a Place in Secondary Stroke Prevention?: No
Fisher
Stroke 2009;40:1944-1945.
FULL TEXT
Effect of Age on Stroke Prevention Therapy in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: The Atrial Fibrillation Investigators
van Walraven et al.
Stroke 2009;40:1410-1416.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Warfarin for the prevention of systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis
Andersen et al.
Heart 2008;94:1607-1613.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Anticoagulation Control and Prediction of Adverse Events in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review
Wan et al.
Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2008;1:84-91.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Pharmacology and Management of the Vitamin K Antagonists: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines (8th Edition)
Ansell et al.
Chest 2008;133:160S-198S.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Hemorrhagic Complications of Anticoagulant and Thrombolytic Treatment: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines (8th Edition)
Schulman et al.
Chest 2008;133:257S-298S.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Antithrombotic Therapy in Atrial Fibrillation: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines (8th Edition)
Singer et al.
Chest 2008;133:546S-592S.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Dual Antithrombotic Therapy Increases Severe Bleeding Events in Patients With Stroke and Cardiovascular Disease: A Prospective, Multicenter, Observational Study
Toyoda et al.
Stroke 2008;39:1740-1745.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Use of Anticoagulation in Elderly Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Who Are at Risk for Falls
Garwood and Corbett
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2008;42:523-532.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Outcome parameters for trials in atrial fibrillation: executive summary: Recommendations from a consensus conference organized by the German Atrial Fibrillation Competence NETwork (AFNET) and the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA)
Kirchhof et al.
Eur Heart J 2007;28:2803-2817.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
ASHP Therapeutic Position Statement on Antithrombotic Therapy in Chronic Atrial Fibrillation
Nutescu
Am J Health Syst Pharm 2007;64:2281-2291.
FULL TEXT
Outcome parameters for trials in atrial fibrillation: Recommendations from a consensus conference organized by the German Atrial Fibrillation Competence NETwork and the European Heart Rhythm Association
Kirchhof et al.
Europace 2007;9:1006-1023.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Adjusted-Dose Warfarin versus Aspirin for Preventing Stroke in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Hart et al.
ANN INTERN MED 2007;147:590-592.
FULL TEXT
Meta-analysis: Antithrombotic Therapy to Prevent Stroke in Patients Who Have Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation
Hart et al.
ANN INTERN MED 2007;146:857-867.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Frequency of adverse events in patients with poor anticoagulation: a meta-analysis
Oake et al.
CMAJ 2007;176:1589-1594.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Warfarin and Antiplatelet Combination Use Among Commercially Insured Patients Enrolled in an Anticoagulation Management Service
Johnson et al.
Chest 2007;131:1500-1507.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
The Influence of Patient Adherence on Anticoagulation Control With Warfarin: Results From the International Normalized Ratio Adherence and Genetics (IN-RANGE) Study
Kimmel et al.
Arch Intern Med 2007;167:229-235.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Newly Detected Atrial Fibrillation and Compliance With Antithrombotic Guidelines
Glazer et al.
Arch Intern Med 2007;167:246-252.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Combined Aspirin-Oral Anticoagulant Therapy Compared With Oral Anticoagulant Therapy Alone Among Patients at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials
Dentali et al.
Arch Intern Med 2007;167:117-124.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Mixed comparison of stroke prevention treatments in individuals with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation.
Cooper et al.
Arch Intern Med 2006;166:1269-1275.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Effect of Study Setting on Anticoagulation Control: A Systematic Review and Metaregression
van Walraven et al.
Chest 2006;129:1155-1166.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Transcatheter Occlusion (PLAATO System) to Prevent Stroke in High-Risk Patients With Non-Rheumatic Atrial Fibrillation: Results From the International Multi-Center Feasibility Trials
Ostermayer et al.
J Am Coll Cardiol 2005;46:9-14.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Avoiding Central Nervous System Bleeding During Antithrombotic Therapy: Recent Data and Ideas
Hart et al.
Stroke 2005;36:1588-1593.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Rate Control Is Preferable to Rhythm Control in the Majority of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Falk
Circulation 2005;111:3141-3150.
FULL TEXT
Direct thrombin inhibitors: novel antithrombotics on the horizon in the thromboprophylactic management of atrial fibrillation
Katira et al.
Postgrad. Med. J. 2005;81:370-375.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Current status of stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation
Bath et al.
Eur Heart J Suppl 2005;7:C12-C18.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Indication for antithrombotic therapy for atrial fibrillation: reconciling the guidelines with clinical practice
Emmerich et al.
Eur Heart J Suppl 2005;7:C28-C33.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Costs and Effectiveness of Ximelagatran for Stroke Prophylaxis in Chronic Atrial Fibrillation
O'Brien and Gage
JAMA 2005;293:699-706.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Warfarin Anticoagulation and Outcomes in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Metaanalysis
Reynolds et al.
Chest 2004;126:1938-1945.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Comparative effects of antiplatelet, anticoagulant, or combined therapy in patients with valvular and nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: A randomized multicenter study
Perez-Gomez et al.
J Am Coll Cardiol 2004;44:1557-1566.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Selecting Patients With Atrial Fibrillation for Anticoagulation: Stroke Risk Stratification in Patients Taking Aspirin
Gage et al.
Circulation 2004;110:2287-2292.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
The Pharmacology and Management of the Vitamin K Antagonists: The Seventh ACCP Conference on Antithrombotic and Thrombolytic Therapy
Ansell et al.
Chest 2004;126:204S-233S.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Hemorrhagic Complications of Anticoagulant Treatment: The Seventh ACCP Conference on Antithrombotic and Thrombolytic Therapy
Levine et al.
Chest 2004;126:287S-310S.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Antithrombotic Therapy in Atrial Fibrillation: The Seventh ACCP Conference on Antithrombotic and Thrombolytic Therapy
Singer et al.
Chest 2004;126:429S-456S.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Anticoagulation in the Elderly
Dowd
Journal of Pharmacy Practice 2004;17:94-102.
ABSTRACT
Establishing an Optimal Therapeutic Range for Coumarins: Filling in the Gaps
O'Donnell and Hirsh
Arch Intern Med 2004;164:588-590.
FULL TEXT
Management of Newly Detected Atrial Fibrillation: A Clinical Practice Guideline from the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Physicians
Snow et al.
ANN INTERN MED 2003;139:1009-1017.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Management of Atrial Fibrillation: Review of the Evidence for the Role of Pharmacologic Therapy, Electrical Cardioversion, and Echocardiography
McNamara et al.
ANN INTERN MED 2003;139:1018-1033.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation: what is certain and what is to come
Villani et al.
Eur Heart J Suppl 2003;5:H45-H50.
ABSTRACT
American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation guide to warfarin therapy
Hirsh et al.
J Am Coll Cardiol 2003;41:1633-1652.
FULL TEXT
A Clinical Prediction Rule to Identify Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and a Low Risk for Stroke While Taking Aspirin
van Walraven et al.
Arch Intern Med 2003;163:936-943.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation Guide to Warfarin Therapy
Hirsh et al.
Circulation 2003;107:1692-1711.
FULL TEXT
Oral Anticoagulants vs Aspirin in Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: An Individual Patient Meta-analysis
van Walraven et al.
JAMA 2002;288:2441-2448.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Management of the Older Person With Atrial Fibrillation
Aronow
Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 2002;57:M352-363.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Balancing the Risks of Stroke and Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Bleeding in Older Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Man-Son-Hing and Laupacis
Arch Intern Med 2002;162:541-550.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Warfarin Therapy for an Octogenarian Who Has Atrial Fibrillation
Gage et al.
ANN INTERN MED 2001;134:465-474.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Systematic review of long term anticoagulation or antiplatelet treatment in patients with non-rheumatic atrial fibrillation
Taylor et al.
BMJ 2001;322:321-326.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Hemorrhagic Complications of Anticoagulant Treatment
Levine et al.
Chest 2001;119
:108S-121S.
FULL TEXT
Antithrombotic Therapy in Atrial Fibrillation
Albers et al.
Chest 2001;119
:194S-206S.
FULL TEXT
Antithrombotic Therapy To Prevent Stroke in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Hart and Pearce
ANN INTERN MED 2000;132:841-842.
FULL TEXT
Effects of Fixed Low-Dose Warfarin, Aspirin-Warfarin Combination Therapy, and Dose-Adjusted Warfarin on Thrombogenesis in Chronic Atrial Fibrillation
Li-Saw-Hee et al.
Stroke 2000;31:828-833.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Aspirin
Awtry and Loscalzo
Circulation 2000;101:1206-1218.
FULL TEXT
Warfarin Use among Ambulatory Patients with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: The AnTicoagulation and Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation (ATRIA) Study
Go et al.
ANN INTERN MED 1999;131:927-934.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Atrial Fibrillation and Thromboembolism: A Decade of Progress in Stroke Prevention
Hart and Halperin
ANN INTERN MED 1999;131:688-695.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Antithrombotic Therapy To Prevent Stroke in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Meta-Analysis
Hart et al.
ANN INTERN MED 1999;131:492-501.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
State-of-the-Art Review: Warfarin Therapy: A Review of the Literature Since the Fifth American College of Chest Physicians' Consensus Conference on Antithrombotic Therapy
Lodwick
CLIN APPL THROMB HEMOST 1999;5:208-215.
Managing atrial fibrillation in elderly people
Lancaster et al.
BMJ 1999;319:452a-452.
FULL TEXT
Bleeding During Warfarin and Aspirin Therapy in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: The AFASAK 2 Study
Gullov et al.
Arch Intern Med 1999;159:1322-1328.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Factors Associated With Ischemic Stroke During Aspirin Therapy in Atrial Fibrillation : Analysis of 2012 Participants in the SPAF I–III Clinical Trials
Hart et al.
Stroke 1999;30:1223-1229.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Preventing Stroke in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Ezekowitz and Levine
JAMA 1999;281:1830-1835.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Warfarin vs Aspirin and AFASAK 2
Bloom et al.
Arch Intern Med 1999;159:1010-1011.
FULL TEXT
Choice of Antithrombotic Therapy for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation: Warfarin, Aspirin, or Both?
Albers
Arch Intern Med 1998;158:1487-1491.
FULL TEXT
|
