Evaluation of Bleeding and Thrombotic Outcomes of Anticoagulation Strategies Upon Intensive Care Unit Admission for Patients with Atrial Fibrillation on Direct Oral Anticoagulants

Background: Critically ill adults are more commonly being admitted to intensive care units (ICU) with a recent history of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) use. No consensus guidance exists on optimal anticoagulation strategies in critically ill adults with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) on DOAC’s prior to ICU admission, and there is considerable variability in clinical practice. Objective: To evaluate rates of major bleeding and thrombosis between 2 anticoagulation strategies for NVAF upon ICU admission: package insert (continuation of oral or parenteral anticoagulation per manufacturer recommendations) vs non-package insert (prophylactic dosing or delayed therapeutic anticoagulation). Study design: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted from January 2019 to August 2023. Patients with NVAF and objective evidence of DOAC exposure within 48 hours of ICU admission were included. Those admitted to the ICU for a bleeding event or who received anticoagulation for indications other than NVAF were excluded. Results: A total of 353 patients met inclusion criteria (122 vs 231 in the package insert and non-package insert groups, respectively). There was no significant difference in the composite incidence of major bleeding and stroke or systemic embolism between groups (4.1% in package insert vs 6.1% in non-package insert; P = 0.437). Conclusion: This study demonstrated no difference in the incidence of major bleeding, in-hospital stroke, or systemic embolism with a package insert vs a non-package insert approach to anticoagulation in critically ill patients receiving DOAC therapy for atrial fibrillation. However, more studies are needed to develop evidence-based guidance on anticoagulation management in this population.