Balancing thromboembolic and bleeding risk with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) : a systematic review and meta-analysis on gender differences

Sex and gender differences have been reported in atrial fibrillation (AF), especially in relation to differences in thromboembolic and bleeding risks. More recently, pharmacological treatments have changed following the introduction of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) progressively replacing vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). The aims of this systematic review are to summarize the available evidence on NOACs and the relationship to major adverse outcomes according to sex. Moreover, we performed a meta-analysis of data from the phase III clinical trials investigating the sex effect on stroke/systemic embolic events (SEE) and major bleeding. Our literature review found small differences in NOACs efficacy and safety between male and female patients, even if so far available literature is limited to post-hoc ancillary analyses from randomized trials and one cohort study. Meta-analysis from NOAC trials found a differential effect of NOACs, with male patients being more protected from stroke/SEE and female patients more protected from major bleeding events. Further data are needed to fully elucidate sex differences in AF patients treated with NOACs.