Association of Direct Oral Anticoagulants vs. Vitamin K Antagonists With Fractures in Atrial Fibrillation Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Current evidence regarding the application of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) vs. vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) on the fracture risk is inconsistent. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the fracture risk of DOACs vs. VKAs in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The PubMed and Embase databases were systematically searched until June 2021 for all the studies that reported oral anticoagulants in AF patients. The random-effect model with an inverse variance method was selected to pool the risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 10 studies were included in this meta-analysis. Among AF patients receiving anticoagulants, DOAC users showed a reduced risk of any fracture compared to those with VKAs (RR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.70-0.91) regardless of gender [males (RR = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.67-0.92) and females (RR = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.57-0.89)]. Apixaban (RR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.60-0.92) and rivaroxaban (RR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.61-0.88), but not dabigatran and edoxaban, were associated with a decreased risk of any fracture compared with VKAs. DOAC users had decreased risks of osteoporotic fractures (RR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.47-0.84) and hip/pelvic fractures (RR = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.79-0.97) compared to those treated with VKAs. Our meta-analysis suggested that the use of DOACs was associated with a reduced risk of any fracture compared with VKAs. Further studies should confirm our findings.