Thromboembolism and bleeding risk in atrial fibrillation ablation with uninterrupted anticoagulation between new oral anticoagulants and vitamin K antagonists: insights from an updated meta-analysis

Cumulative reports comparing the efficacy and safety outcomes between uninterrupted NOACs and vitamin K antagonists (VKA) in AF ablation had been freshly published. This meta-analysis aimed at offering a more comprehensive evaluation between these two anticoagulants in uninterrupted strategy. We searched in PUBMED, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library (inception to June 10, 2019) for eligible studies. Fixed-effects model was preferred in pooled analysis if I 2 300 s. In conclusions, uninterrupted NOACs was more effective than uninterrupted VKA in reducing major bleeding and pericardial effusion risk without increasing thromboembolism risk, and the benefits of uninterrupted NOACs on major bleeding complication could be more pronounced if CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score ≥ 2 or target ACT > 300 s.