Vitamin K antagonists and cardiovascular calcification: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Many patients treated with Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) for anticoagulation have concomitant vascular or valvular calcification. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate a hypothesis that vascular and valvular calcification is a side-effect of VKA treatment.

We conducted a systematic literature search to identify studies that reported vascular or valvular calcification in patients treated with VKA. The associations between VKA use and calcification were analyzed with random-effects inverse variance models and reported as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). In addition, univariate meta-regression analyses were utilized to identify any effect moderators.

Thirty-five studies were included (45,757 patients; 6,251 VKA users). The median follow-up was 2.3 years [interquartile range (IQR) of 1.2-4.0]; age 66.2 ± 3.6 years (mean ± SD); the majority of participants were males [77% (IQR: 72-95%)]. VKA use was associated with an increased OR for coronary artery calcification [1.21 (1.08, 1.36), p = 0.001], moderated by the duration of treatment [meta-regression coefficient B of 0.08 (0.03, 0.13), p = 0.0005]. Extra-coronary calcification affecting the aorta, carotid artery, breast artery, and arteries of lower extremities, was also increased in VKA treated patients [1.86 (1.43, 2.42), p < 0.00001] and moderated by the author-reported statistical adjustments of the effect estimates [B: -0.63 (-1.19, -0.08), p = 0.016]. The effect of VKA on the aortic valve calcification was significant [3.07 (1.90, 4.96), p < 0.00001]; however, these studies suffered from a high risk of publication bias.

Vascular and valvular calcification are potential side effects of VKA. The clinical significance of these side effects on cardiovascular outcomes deserves further investigation.