The Direct Oral Anticoagulation Versus Vitamin K Antagonist After Cardiac Surgery Trial

Approximately 36,000 Canadian adults undergo cardiac surgery annually. Of these patients, about 10% have a prior history of atrial fibrillation (AF). In the early post-operative period after cardiac surgery, 30-60% of patients develop AF and, by the time of discharge, 32% of patients who underwent cardiac surgery have an indication for oral anticoagulation (OAC). AF is associated with a significantly higher risk of stroke, even when transient, and OAC is the standard for thromboembolic prevention in these patients. In the post-operative period, the balance of benefits and risks of OAC may differ and the safest and most effective OAC in that patient population is uncertain.

Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), such as warfarin or coumadin, are the most used anticoagulants after cardiac surgery. In the Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Study (LAAOS) III that recruited 4811 patients from 105 centres in 27 countries, 77% of patients with AF on OAC were discharged on a VKA after cardiac surgery. Among patients taking a DOAC preoperatively, 55% were switched to a VKA after surgery. Over the first post-operative year, most of those patients were gradually transitioned back to a DOAC. Although effective, the use of VKAs is limited by a narrow therapeutic index requiring frequent international normalized ratio (INR) measurements to ensure appropriate levels of anticoagulation. This key limitation leads to non-compliance and discontinuation. In addition, in the first 3 months after cardiac surgery, time in the therapeutic range is low, even with close monitoring by experienced prescribers.

In the last decade, DOACs - inhibitors of factor Xa or thrombin- have become broadly used in patients with AF. Treatment with a DOAC in patients with AF has been demonstrated to yield a lower risk of stroke or systemic embolism and a similar risk of major bleeding when compared to VKAs during long-term follow-up. Moreover, DOACs are more convenient for both patients and clinicians. They have a rapid onset of effect, fixed dosage that obviates the need for regular monitoring, and few interactions with food and other medications. In the postoperative setting, DOACs may also lead to shorter length of stay and reduced costs.

The purpose of this study is to establish whether DOACs are as safe as VKAs in the first few weeks after heart surgery. The results of this study will impact the treatment of hundreds of thousands of patients in the world every year.

A subset of 910 DANCE participants with a recent bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement will be enrolled in the SUNDANCE substudy (Subclinical valve thrombosis in patients with surgical bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement: An imaging substudy of the DANCE trial). SUNDANCE will examine the effects of DOACs versus VKAs on subclinical valve thrombosis and bioprosthetic valve function by conducting computed tomography (CT) scans and echocardiograms at 60 to 90 days after randomization.