Assessment of the risk of bias according to the Cochrane Collaboration's tool.

<p>+: Low risk of bias; −: high risk of bias</p

Relative risk of stroke and systemic embolism and major bleeding reduction according to age, comorbidities and VKA status.

<p>Relative risk of stroke and systemic embolism and major bleeding reduction according to age, comorbidities and VKA status.</p

Detailed forest plot of major bleeding according to (A) age, (B) renal function, (C) prior VKA exposure, (D) CHADS₂ score, (E) heart failure, (F) prior stroke or transient ischemic attack, (G) diabetes mellitus.

<p>Detailed forest plot of major bleeding according to (A) age, (B) renal function, (C) prior VKA exposure, (D) CHADS₂ score, (E) heart failure, (F) prior stroke or transient ischemic attack, (G) diabetes mellitus.</p

Results of ARISTOTLE, RE-LY, and ROCKET-AF trials according to subgroup.

<p>A: apixaban; Bid: twice daily; D: dabigatran; HR: hazard ratio; MB: major bleeding; NR: not reported; od: once daily; R: rivaroxaban; SE: systemic embolism; SSE: stroke and/or systemic embolism; TIA: transient ischemic attack; VKA: vitamin K antagonist.</p

Flow chart for trial selection.

<p>Flow chart for trial selection.</p

Detailed forest plot of stroke and systemic embolism according to (A) age, (B) renal function, (C) prior VKA exposure, (D) CHADS₂ score, (E) heart failure, (F) prior stroke or transient ischemic attack, (G) diabetes mellitus.

<p>Detailed forest plot of stroke and systemic embolism according to (A) age, (B) renal function, (C) prior VKA exposure, (D) CHADS₂ score, (E) heart failure, (F) prior stroke or transient ischemic attack, (G) diabetes mellitus.</p

Patient’s knowledge of taking an anticoagulant.

<p>Patient’s knowledge of taking an anticoagulant.</p

Prescription of long-term therapy within the first 90 days in non-cancer patients.

<p>Prescription of long-term therapy within the first 90 days in non-cancer patients.</p

Prescription of long-term therapy within the first 90 days in patients with cancer.

<p>Prescription of long-term therapy within the first 90 days in patients with cancer.</p

Patients without cancer: Clinical characteristics according to long-term anticoagulant therapy.

<p><b><i>Abbreviations</i>:</b> VKA, vitamin K antagonists; LMWH, low-molecular-weight heparin; SD, standard deviation; CrCl, creatinine clearance; VTE, venous thromboembolism; DVT, deep vein thrombosis. Differences between patients starting VKA within the first week and the other groups</p><p>* p <0.05</p><p>^‡p <0.001.</p><p>Patients without cancer: Clinical characteristics according to long-term anticoagulant therapy.</p