Study will focus on real-world use of oral anticoagulants

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital will conduct a long-term study to assess comparative effectiveness, safety and prescribing patterns of oral anticoagulants indicated to reduce the risk for stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

The hospital signed a multi-year agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim, manufacturer of dabigatran (Pradaxa), to fund the study, according to a company press release.

The researchers will analyze claims data from UnitedHealth Group’s research database to try to determine the real-world safety and effectiveness of warfarin, dabigatran and other oral anticoagulants, according to information from the release.

“It is our hope that the results of this study program will improve awareness that stroke risk related to [nonvalvular] AF is a growing public health issue and increase understanding of real-world experiences with new oral anticoagulants on the market to reduce stroke risk,” Sebastian Schneeweiss, MD, ScD, vice chief of the division of pharmacoepidemiology and pharmacoeconomics at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said in the release. “This research will allow us to produce additional data over several years that will help the medical community and patients understand the risks and benefits of anticoagulants used to reduce the risk for stroke associated with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.”