VIDEO: Aspirin linked to bleeding events in patients receiving direct oral anticoagulants
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ORLANDO — In this video at the ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition, Thein H. Oo, MD, FRCPE, FACP, reviews a study that showed the addition of aspirin to direct oral anticoagulants for venous thromboembolism or non-valvular atrial fibrillation was linked to an increase in bleeding events.
The study included more than 2,000 patients receiving direct oral anticoagulants, 30% of whom were also receiving aspirin for an unclear indication. Researchers found no apparent benefit of aspirin on thrombotic events.
“This real-life study highlights the importance that many patients [with venous thromboembolism and atrial fibrillation] have been on aspirin and direct oral anticoagulants without any clear indication,” Oo, of the Section of Benign Hematology, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, told Healio. “Therefore, patients who are on a direct oral anticoagulant should be interviewed by the treating physicians [to determine] if they are taking aspirin simultaneously over the counter.”
Reference:
Schaefer JK, et al. Abstract 787. Presented at: ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition; Dec. 7-10, 2019; Orlando.
Disclosure: Oo reports being a co-investigator on studies funded by Janssen; serving on the advisory board for Bristol-Myers Squibb; and receiving honoraria from the Medical Education Speakers Network.