Thrombosis: A major contributor to global disease burden

AbstractThrombosis is a common pathology underlying ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, and venous thromboembolism (VTE). The Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 (GBD 2010) documented that ischemic heart disease and stroke collectively caused one in four deaths worldwide. GBD 2010 did not report data for VTE as a cause of death and disability. We performed a systematic review of the literature on the global disease burden due to VTE in low, middle and high income countries. Studies from Western Europe, North America, Australia, and Southern Latin America (Argentina) yielded consistent results with annual incidences ranging from 0.75 to 2.69 per 1,000 individuals in the population. The incidence increased to between 2 and 7 per 1,000 among those 70years of age or more. Although the incidence is lower in individuals of Chinese and Korean ethnicity, their disease burden is not low because of population aging. VTE associated with hospitalization was the leading cause of disability-adjusted-life-years (DALYs) lost in low and middle income countries, and second in high income countries, responsible for more DALYs lost than nosocomial pneumonia, catheter-related blood stream infections, and adverse drug events. VTE causes a major burden of disease across low, middle, and high income countries. More detailed data on the global burden of VTE should be obtained to inform policy and resource allocation in health systems, and to evaluate if improved utilization of preventive measures will reduce the burden

On World Thrombosis Day

Clinical epidemiolog

Comparison of idrabiotaparinux with vitamin K antagonists for prevention of thromboembolism in patients with atrial fibrillation: the Borealis-Atrial Fibrillation Study

Idrabiotaparinux, a long-acting inhibitor of factor Xa, was shown to be effective in the treatment of patients with venous thromboembolism. To assess non-inferiority for the efficacy of idrabiotaparinux versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) at risk of stroke and systemic embolism. Bleeding was also assessed. This randomized, double-blind trial enrolled patients with electrocardiogram-documented AF. Idrabiotaparinux was administered weekly via subcutaneous injection, and warfarin was administered daily with dose adjustment to maintain the international normalized ratio between 2.0 and 3.0. Each idrabiotaparinux injection was 3 mg for the first 7 weeks, followed by 2 mg thereafter, except in patients with a creatinine clearance of 30-50 mL min(-1) or aged ≥ 75 years. The patients received 1.5 mg after the first 7 weeks. The efficacy outcome was the composite of all fatal or non-fatal strokes and systemic embolism. The safety outcome was clinically relevant bleeding (major and clinically relevant non-major bleeding). The study was terminated prematurely by the sponsor for strategic/commercial, not scientific, reasons, with 39% of the planned number of patients included and an average duration of treatment of 240 days. Of the 1886 idrabiotaparinux recipients, 20 developed stroke or systemic embolism (1.5% per year), whereas this occurred in 22 of the 1887 warfarin patients (1.6% per year, hazard ratio 0.98, 95% confidence interval 0.49-1.66). The annual incidence of bleeding was 6.1% in the idrabiotaparinux and 10.0% in the warfarin group (hazard ratio 0.61, 95% confidence interval 0.46-0.81). If anything, despite its early termination, the idrabiotaparinux regimen studied suggested a comparable efficacy to dose-adjusted warfarin, with a lower bleeding ris

Apixaban versus Enoxaparin for Thromboprophylaxis after Hip Replacement

BACKGROUND There are various regimens for thromboprophylaxis after hip replacement. Low-molecular-weight heparins such as enoxaparin predominantly inhibit factor Xa but also inhibit thrombin to some degree. Orally active, specific factor Xa inhibitors such as apixaban may provide effective thromboprophylaxis with a lower risk of bleeding and improved ease of use. METHODS In this double-blind, double-dummy study, we randomly assigned 5407 patients undergoing total hip replacement to receive apixaban at a dose of 2.5 mg orally twice daily or enoxaparin at a dose of 40 mg subcutaneously every 24 hours. Apixaban therapy was initiated 12 to 24 hours after closure of the surgical wound; enoxaparin therapy was initiated 12 hours before surgery. Prophylaxis was continued for 35 days after surgery, followed by bilateral venographic studies. The primary efficacy outcome was the composite of asymptomatic or symptomatic deep-vein thrombosis, nonfatal pulmonary embolism, or death from any cause during the treatment period. Patients were followed for an additional 60 days after the last intended dose of study medication. RESULTS A total of 1949 patients in the apixaban group (72.0%) and 1917 patients in the enoxaparin group (71.0%) could be evaluated for the primary efficacy analysis. The primary efficacy outcome occurred in 27 patients in the apixaban group (1.4%) and in 74 patients in the enoxaparin group (3.9%) (relative risk with apixaban, 0.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.22 to 0.54; P<0.001 for both noninferiority and superiority; absolute risk reduction, 2.5 percentage points; 95% CI, 1.5 to 3.5). The composite outcome of major and clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding occurred in 129 of 2673 patients assigned to apixaban (4.8%) and 134 of 2659 assigned to enoxaparin (5.0%) (absolute difference in risk, −0.2 percentage points; 95% CI, −1.4 to 1.0). CONCLUSIONS Among patients undergoing hip replacement, thromboprophylaxis with apixaban, as compared with enoxaparin, was associated with lower rates of venous thromboembolism, without increased bleeding