An observational study was conducted in 162 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation after hospitalization for acute decompensated heart failure who underwent creatinine determinations during follow-up. The hypothetical recommended dosage of dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban according to renal function was determined at discharge. Variations in serum creatinine and creatinine clearance and consequent changes in the recommended dosage of these drugs were identified during 6 months of follow-up.
Among the overall study population, 44% of patients would have needed dabigatran dosage adjustment during follow-up, 35% would have needed rivaroxaban adjustment, and 29% would have needed apixaban dosage adjustment. A higher proportion of patients with creatinine clearance < 60 mL/min or with advanced age (≥ 75 years) would have needed dosage adjustment during follow-up.
The need for dosage adjustment of nonvitamin K oral anticoagulants during follow-up is frequent in patients with atrial fibrillation after acute decompensated heart failure, especially among older patients and those with renal impairment. Further studies are needed to clarify the clinical importance of these needs for drug dosing adjustment and the ideal renal function monitoring regime in heart failure and other subgroups of patients with atrial fibrillation.