Impact of Switching From a Vitamin K Antagonist to Rivaroxaban on Satisfaction With Anticoagulation Therapy: The XANTUS‐ACTS Substudy

BACKGROUND: The efficacy, safety, and ease of use of rivaroxaban may reduce anticoagulation-treatment burden and improve nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patient satisfaction compared with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). HYPOTHESIS: Transitioning from a VKA to rivaroxaban improves treatment satisfaction in routine practice. METHODS: Xarelto for Prevention of Stroke in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation (XANTUS) is a prospective, noninterventional study in patients with NVAF prescribed rivaroxaban for prevention of stroke in routine practice. Patients receiving a VKA 4 weeks prior to the initial XANTUS study visit and switched to rivaroxaban were asked to complete the Anti-Clot Treatment Scale (ACTS). Changes from the initial visit to the first follow-up visit at ∼ 3 months (corresponding to a comparison of rivaroxaban vs prior VKA) for ACTS burden and benefit scores were calculated using and reported as least squared mean differences (LSMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: The study included 1291 NVAF patients with prior VKA treatment. The mean baseline ACTS burden and benefit scores were 50.51 ± 8.42 and 10.30 ± 2.70, respectively. After ∼ 3 months of rivaroxaban treatment, LSMDs were 4.38 points (95% CI: 2.53-6.22, P < 0.0001) for the burden and 1.01 points (95% CI: 0.27-1.75, P = 0.0075) for the benefit score. Fifty-four percent and 48% of patients reported experiencing at least a minimally important clinical difference in burden and benefit scores, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Within this XANTUS cohort, switching from a VKA to rivaroxaban yielded statistically and clinically significant improvements in ACT burden and benefit scores.