Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, occurring in 1-2% of the general population. With an aging population, its prevalence is estimated to increase two-fold in the next 50 years. The prevalence of AF increases remarkably with age, being 0.5% at 40-50 years of age and 5-15% at 80 years of age. Men are more often affected than women.
Objective: This study was aimed to evaluate and compare the healthcare effect and safety of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients using novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) with patients using warfarin.
Patients and Methods: This study included a total of 124 patients with non-rheumatic atrial fibrillation on their anticoagulation drug, attending at Department of Cardiology, Zagazig University Hospitals, and Cardiology Clinic, Ministry of Civil Aviation, during the period from 2015 to 2016. Patients were divided into two groups NOACs, group I and warfarin, group II. Results: revealed that there was a statistically significant difference between both groups regarding hemorrhagic complications. The rate of occurrence of hemorrhage among the warfarin group was 8.3% per year compared to 3.3% of the NOACs group. Results revealed also that there was a statistically significant difference between both groups regarding thrombotic complications. The rate of thrombosis among the warfarin group was 25% per year compared to 8.2% of the NOACs group.