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Updated: Jun 9, 2025

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 28, 2012
[Direct Oral Anticoagulants in elderly with multimorbidity: what precautions?]
Beatriz Alameda1, Sophia Hannou2,3, Julien Derême4
1Centre universitaire de traitement et de réadaptation gériatrique, Service de gériatrie, Département de médecine, Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois, 1011 Lausanne.
Abstract:
Elderly with multimorbidity are at higher risk of accumulating direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC). The presence of renal insufficiency, an extreme age or weight, a limited functional reserve, and a polypharmacy that may interact with DOAC, lead to an increased risk of bleeding. A medication review and an evaluation of DOAC exposure in this population could help identify this risk and better manage it. This evaluation is conducted in collaboration with coagulation experts through calibrated measurement of anti-Xa (rivarobaxan, apixaban and edoxaban), along with D-dimers measurement as a potential tool to assess thrombo-hemorrhagic risk. In the event of DOAC accumulation, experts could then propose personalized intervention, such as a dose reduction or a switch to another DOAC.
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