rivaroxaban and Cognitive-Dysfunction

This article presents an overview of data of Russian and foreign literature on possible associations between cognitive impairment and atrial fibrillation (AF). It includes modern classification of cognitive impairment, mechanisms of the effect of AF on cognitive functions and development of dementia, recommendations for the prevention of cognitive impairment in patients with AF. Special attention is paid to the assessment of cognitive status, and safe anticoagulant therapy, which is a priority in the prevention of cognitive impairment in patients with AF. Analysis of literature showed greater efficacy and safety of drugs from the group of Non-vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants (NOAC), rivaroxaban in particular, in comparison with warfarin. Drugs from the NOAC group can be recommended for prevention stroke, cognitive impairment and dementia in elderly patients with AF.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Aged; Anticoagulants; Atrial Fibrillation; Cognition; Cognitive Dysfunction; Dementia; Humans; Risk Factors; Rivaroxaban; Russia; Warfarin

Compelling evidence showing a link between atrial fibrillation (AF) and cognitive decline and dementia is accumulating.. Blinded Randomized Trial of Anticoagulation to Prevent Ischemic Stroke and Neurocognitive Impairment in Atrial Fibrillation (BRAIN-AF) is a prospective, multicentric, double-blind, randomized-controlled trial, recruiting patients with nonvalvular AF and a low risk of stroke. Patients with a high risk of bleeding will be excluded from the study. Participants will be randomized to receive either rivaroxaban (15 mg daily) or standard of care (placebo in patients without vascular disease or acetylsalicylic acid 100 mg daily in patients with vascular disease).. The primary outcome is the composite of stroke, transient ischemic attack, and cognitive decline (defined by a decrease in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score ≥ 3 at any follow-up visit after baseline). Approximately 3250 patients will be enrolled in approximately 130 clinical sites until 609 adjudicated primary outcome events have occurred.. BRAIN-AF determines whether oral anticoagulation therapy with rivaroxaban compared with standard of care reduces the risk of stroke, transient ischemic attack, or cognitive decline in patients with nonvalvular AF and a low risk of stroke.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Atrial Fibrillation; Blood Coagulation; Brain Ischemia; Cognitive Dysfunction; Double-Blind Method; Drug Monitoring; Factor Xa Inhibitors; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Status and Dementia Tests; Middle Aged; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Rivaroxaban; Stroke

Topics: Action Potentials; Age Factors; Atrial Fibrillation; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Cognition; Cognitive Dysfunction; Cross-Sectional Studies; Factor Xa Inhibitors; Female; Heart Conduction System; Heart Rate; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pilot Projects; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Rivaroxaban

The article discusses the development of cognitive deficit in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and provides data on mechanisms of the development of cognitive disorders in AF. Under discussion are a possibility of reducing the risk of cognitive disorders with the anticoagulant therapy for prevention of stroke in AF and different properties of different anticoagulants, which may be important for patients. Thus, patients with cognitive disorders are more prone to missing the dose, which may entail serious, possibly fatal consequences. Therefore, the convenience of dosing may be essential. The drug rivaroxaban that has once-a-day dosing schedule and a calendar package, may help the patient better adhere to the doctor's recommendations. Therefore, rivaroxaban may help improving the compliance, which is the major condition for comprehensive, necessary protection of an elderly patient with AF, including the protection, with high safety, from stroke, from the risk of coronary complications, and from the impairment of kidney function.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Aged; Anticoagulants; Atrial Fibrillation; Cognitive Dysfunction; Humans; Risk Factors; Rivaroxaban; Stroke; Treatment Outcome

Covert brain infarcts are associated with cognitive decline. It is not known whether therapies that prevent symptomatic stroke prevent covert infarcts. COMPASS compared rivaroxaban with and without aspirin with aspirin for the prevention of stroke, myocardial infarction, and vascular death in participants with stable vascular disease and was terminated early because of benefits of rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily plus aspirin over aspirin. We obtained serial magnetic resonance imagings and cognitive tests in a consenting subgroup of COMPASS patients to examine treatment effects on infarcts, cerebral microbleeds, and white matter hyperintensities.. Baseline and follow-up magnetic resonance imagings were completed in 1445 participants with a mean (SD) interval of 2.0 (0.7) years. Whole-brain T1, T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, T2* sequences were centrally interpreted by blinded, trained readers. Participants had serial measurements of cognition and function. The primary end point was the proportion of participants with incident covert infarcts. Secondary end points were the composite of clinical stroke and covert brain infarcts, cerebral microbleeds, and white matter hyperintensities.. At baseline, 493 (34.1%) participants had infarcts. Incident covert infarcts occurred in 55 (3.8%) participants. In the overall trial rivaroxaban plus aspirin reduced ischemic stroke by 49% (0.7% versus 1.4%; hazard ratio [95% CI], 0.51 [0.38-0.68]). In the magnetic resonance imaging substudy the effects of rivaroxaban+aspirin versus aspirin were: covert infarcts: 2.7% versus 3.5% (odds ratio [95% CI], 0.77 [0.37-1.60]); Covert infarcts or ischemic stroke: 2.9% versus 5.3% (odds ratio [95% CI], 0.53 [0.27-1.03]). Incident microbleeds occurred in 6.6% of participants and 65.7% of participants had an increase in white matter hyperintensities volume with no effect of treatment for either end point. There was no effect on cognitive tests.. Covert infarcts were not significantly reduced by treatment with rivaroxaban and aspirin but estimates for the combination of ischemic stroke and covert infarcts were consistent with the effect on ischemic stroke in the overall trial. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01776424.

Topics: Aged; Aspirin; Brain; Brain Infarction; Cognitive Dysfunction; Drug Therapy, Combination; Factor Xa Inhibitors; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Rivaroxaban; Stroke; Treatment Outcome