New anticoagulants in atrial fibrillation management

Three new oral anticoagulants have been evaluated in large registration trials and are now available in many jurisdictions for patients with atrial fibrillation. Questions arise whether these drugs are equally effective and safe for all patients. Now when we are moving away from decades with only one orally available drug for anticoagulation there is opportunity to tailor the therapy according to patient characteristics and preferences. This review addresses the interaction of various patient characteristics with the treatment and what features can assist the physician in the choice of anticoagulant for the individual patient.