Comparison of Bleeding Risk Between Apixaban and Rivaroxaban in Adults with Atrial Fibrillation A 12-Month Randomized Study on Safety and Stroke Prevention

What this Trial Is About

Atrial Fibrillation AF affects around 200,000 Canadians and increases the risk of stroke, illness, and death. A stroke can severely impact a persons ability to speak, eat, walk, work, care for themselves, and socialize, and it can be fatal. In AF, blood flow slows in the hearts upper chambers, causing blood clots that can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. Blood thinners, or anticoagulants, reduce clot formation and stroke risk. This research compares two newer blood thinners, apixaban and rivaroxaban, to assess their safety in preventing bleeding in patients with non-valvular AF. The study randomly assigns participants to take either apixaban twice daily or rivaroxaban once daily for 12 months. Dose adjustments are made based on age, weight, kidney function, and creatinine clearance. Both treatments are taken by mouth, and kidney function is checked at the start and at least annually during treatment. The trial focuses on comparing bleeding rates between these two approved anticoagulants. Participants will be monitored over 12 months for bleeding events classified as major or clinically relevant non-major bleeding. Researchers will also track strokes, deaths from any cause, medication adherence, and cost-effectiveness. The primary measure is the rate of clinically relevant bleeding during the study, helping to guide first-line therapy choices for stroke prevention in AF.

COmparison of Bleeding Risk Between Rivaroxaban and Apixaban in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation