Orally administered anticoagulants are more effective in elderly patients.

A Humana database analysis revealed direct oral anticoagulant Eliquis (apixaban) is associated with a lower risk of stroke and lower rates of major bleeding, when compared to elderly patients being treated with Warfarin. The study results, announced, by Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) found patient’s treated with Eliquis^® (apixaban) were shown to have a significantly lower risk of stroke/systemic embolism and lower rates of major bleeding compared to Warfarin in people 65 years or older with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

“People aged 65 and older with non-valvular atrial fibrillation are approximately three to five times more likely to have a stroke than those without this disorder,” said Christoph Koenen, Development Lead for Eliquis. “Despite treatment advances over the past decade, a significant number of people in this age group with NVAF remain under-treated.” The analysis, according to BMS and Pfizer, was published in the journal Current Medical Research and Opinion, on August 29th, along with data from select cohorts presented at a poster session at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2017.

Humana’s database contains claims from more than 20 million patients, residing primarily in the Southern and Midwestern states of the U.S.  Pfizer and BMS explain that within their real-word data analysis they evaluated rates of stroke/systemic embolism (including ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke and systemic embolism) and major bleeding (including intracranial hemorrhage, gastrointestinal bleeding, and other major bleeding). Rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding, said Pfizer and BMS, were evaluated based on hospitalization claims with corresponding ICD-9-CM codes present first among diagnosis codes associated with inpatient claims.

“NVAF has long been identified as a significant risk for stroke, and its prevalence increases with age,” said Steven Deitelzweig, Lead Author and System Department Chair of Hospital Medicine, Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans. “Real-world data such as this Humana database analysis provide further information to inform treatment decisions for select patient sub-populations, such as the elderly, in our everyday clinical practice.”

The study is part of BMS-Pfizer Alliance global real-world data analysis program, ACROPOLIS™ (Apixaban ExperienCe Through Real-WOrld POpuLatIon Studies). Pfizer and BMS said sources for ACROPOLIS included de-identified medical records, medical and pharmacy health insurance claims data and national health data systems representing patient records across diverse populations and geographies.