Comparison of the Safety and Efficacy of Warfarin Versus Rivaroxaban in Northern Chinese Patients with Different CHA2DS2-VASc Scores: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Purpose: This study was aimed at evaluating the safety and efficacy of warfarin versus rivaroxaban in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and different CHA2DS2-VASc score subgroups in northern China. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate 387 patients with AF who received treatment at our institution between September 2018 and August 2019. The patients were divided into two groups receiving either warfarin (n=194) or rivaroxaban (n=193). Follow-up data were collected, including adherence, bleeding and ischemic stroke events. Results: The group receiving rivaroxaban showed better adherence than the group receiving warfarin. In the warfarin-treated group, bleeding incidents declined with increasing scores. In the warfarin-treated group, patients with scores of 2–3 had greater adherence and fewer stroke occurrences. The events of bleeding and stroke did not significantly differ in patients in the rivaroxaban-treated group with different scores. Conclusions: Compared with patients in the warfarin group with different CHA2DS2-VASc scores, those in the rivaroxaban group had greater compliance, and fewer bleeding and stroke events. Regardless of economic considerations, rivaroxaban is preferable for anticoagulative AF treatment in northern Chinese patients.