Background: Extended treatment is preconized in a significant proportion of patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, limited direct/indirect comparisons are available to appropriately weight the benefit/risk ratio of the diverse treatments available. We aimed to compare the rate of symptomatic recurrent VTE and major bleeding (MB), the net clinical benefit (VTE+MB) and death on vitamin-K antagonist (VKA), direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) and antiplatelet drugs for extended anticoagulation.
Methods: A systematic literature search through September 2018 identified randomized trials studying these pharmacologic therapies for extended anticoagulation following VTE. Treatment effects were calculated using network meta-analysis with frequentist fixed-effects model.
Results: 18 trials (18,221 patients) were included in the analysis. All treatments reduced the risk of recurrence compared to placebo/observation. Nonetheless, VKA (RR 0.22; 95%CI 0.13-0.39) and DOAC (RRs ranging from 0.25-0.32; 95%CI ranging from 0.13-0.52) were more effective than aspirin, whereas low-dose VKA was less effective than standard-dose VKA (RR 2.47; 95%CI 1.34-4.55). The efficacy of DOAC was globally comparable to standard-adjusted dose VKA. Low- (RR 3.13; 95%CI 1.37-7.16) and standard-dose (RR 3.23; 95%CI 1.16-8.99) VKA also increased the risk of MB, which was not the case for any DOAC. Low-dose VKA and low-dose DOAC had similar effects on MB compared to standard-doses. Although there was a trend for reduced MB and enhanced net clinical benefit for DOAC compared to VKA, this was not statistically significant. The specific anticoagulant therapies had no significant effects on deaths.
Conclusion: Standard-dose VKA and low/standard-dose DOAC share similar effects on VTE recurrence and MB, whereas aspirin and low-dose VKA were associated with lower benefit/risk ratio.