Relationship of Anticoagulant Therapy With Cognitive Impairment Among Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND

At present, it is considered that atrial fibrillation (AF) is a risk factor for cognitive impairment and dementia. It is independent of stroke, but the relationship between anticoagulant drugs and cognitive function in patients with AF is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to complete a meta-analysis of studies and investigate the association between anticoagulant therapy and cognitive impairment in patients with AF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Two investigators systematically searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE databases, and Web of Science for all studies that present associations. Hazard ratios (HRs) were extracted and pooled. Finally, the 8 studies included 471,057 participants; time in therapeutic range (TTR) <25% versus TTR >75%; (HR 3.02, 95% CI 1.12-8.91; P = 0.03); TTR 25%-50% versus TTR >75% (HR 2.44, 95% CI 0.95-6.22; P = 0.06); TTR 50%-75% versus TTR >75% (HR 1.75, 95% CI 0.90-3.99; P = 0.1); oral anticoagulants (OAC) versus No OAC (HR 0.71, 95% CI 69-0.74; P < 0.00001); and new oral anticoagulants versus warfarin (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.37-0.71; P < 0.00001).

CONCLUSIONS

OACs significantly reduce the occurrence of cognitive impairment in patients with AF. Compared with warfarin, new oral anticoagulants have an efficiently protective effect on cognition. In the range of INR 2-3, with the increase of TTR, the incidence of cognitive impairment is lower.