Open AccessWarfarin or Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants: Navigating the Choice of Oral Anticoagulant Drugs in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era
Author(s) -
Heng Cai,
Xin Zhou,
Qing Yang
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
cardiology plus
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2470-752X
pISSN - 2470-7511
DOI - 10.4103/2470-7511.305417
Subject(s) - warfarin , medicine , vitamin k antagonist , context (archaeology) , covid-19 , intensive care medicine , pandemic , adverse effect , pharmacodynamics , randomized controlled trial , anticoagulant , pharmacology , atrial fibrillation , pharmacokinetics , paleontology , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , biology
Emerging evidence indicates that thromboembolic complications are a key determinant of inhospital mortality of patients with COVID-19. Prophylactic anticoagulation therapy is an important component of inhospital management of patients with COVID-19. Considering that millions of patients worldwide are prescribed oral anticoagulation therapy, herein, we summarize the pros and cons of non-Vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) and warfarin, in terms of pharmacodynamics, and therapeutic efficacy and adverse effect monitoring in the context of the global pandemic of COVID-19. Despite a lack of evidence from high-quality randomized trials, an NOAC, rather than warfarin, would be a scientifically reasonable treatment option for patients with COVID-19 in the outpatient setting.