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Apixaban in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease and Atrial Arrhythmias: the PROTECT-AR Study

A Prospective, Observational, Multicenter Study on the Safety and Efficacy of Apixaban for the Prevention of Thromboembolism in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease and Atrial Arrhythmias: the PROTECT-AR Study

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03854149
Acronym
PROTECT_AR
Enrollment
218
Registered
2019-02-26
Start date
2019-07-01
Completion date
2023-05-30
Last updated
2023-06-22

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Anticoagulants Causing Adverse Effects in Therapeutic Use, Atrial Arrhythmia, Congenital Heart Disease, Thromboembolism

Keywords

Congenital Heart Disease, Atrial Fibrillation, Thromboembolism, NOAC, Apixaban, Atrial arrhythmias

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of apixaban for the prevention of thromboembolism in adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) and non-valvular atrial arrhythmias (AA)

Detailed description

Adult patients with congenital heart disease (ACHD) represent a rapidly growing population due to the progress of surgical techniques and optimal medical management. Non-valvular atrial arrhythmias (AA) carries a significant burden for long-term morbidity and potentially mortality in ACHD patients. AA occur three times more frequently in ACHD compared to the general population. When complicating ACHD, AA convey a twofold increase in the risk for stroke, contributing to an up to 100-fold higher prevalence of stroke in the ACHD population compared to age-matched healthy controls. At present, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines suggest oral anticoagulation (OAC) in all adult patients with AA and intracardiac repair, cyanosis, Fontan palliation, or systemic right ventricle. In the remaining ACHD patients with AA, OAC is suggested if CHA2DS2-Vasc (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 years, diabetes mellitus, stroke/transient ischemic attack, vascular disease, age 65 to 74 years, sex category) score is ≥1 (Class of recommendation IIa, level of evidence C). Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are increasingly preferred over vitamin-K antagonists (VKAs) in most clinical scenarios due to improved safety (with regard to intracranial and other major bleeding) and efficacy (prevention of embolic stroke or systemic embolism) along with the convenience they offer for patients and physicians (fixed dose, no food and drug interactions, no INR monitoring). On the other hand, scarce data is available on the use of NOAC in ACHD. In order to address this gap in evidence, we propose a prospective multicenter single arm, observational cohort trial, which will provide data on the efficacy and safety of apixaban used for the prevention of thromboembolism in ACHD patients with AA.

Interventions

None listed

Sponsors

Onassis Cardiac Surgery Centre
CollaboratorOTHER
Attikon Hospital
CollaboratorOTHER
MITERA Children's Hospital
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
AHEPA University Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Male or female patients aged ≥18 years. 2. Presence of congenital heart disease (intracardiac repair, cyanosis, Fontan palliation, or systemic right ventricle or other congenital heart disease). 3. Non-Valvular Atrial Arrhythmia (including at least one electrocardiographically documented episode). 4. Signed written informed consent by the patient for participation in the study and agreement to comply with the medication and the follow-up schedule.

Exclusion criteria

1. moderate-to-severe mitral stenosis or mechanical valves 2. patient unwilling or unable to complete follow-up procedures

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Major bleedingup to 58 monthsDefined as clinically overt bleeding that is associated with: * A fall in hemoglobin of 2 g/dL or more * A transfusion of ≥2 units of packed red blood cells or whole blood * Bleeding in a critical site: intracranial, intraspinal, intraocular, pericardial, intraarticular, intramuscular with compartment syndrome, retroperitoneal * Death (fatal bleeding)
Stroke, systemic or pulmonary arterial thromboembolism and intracardiac thrombosis.up to 58 monthsThe composite endpoint of all-cause stroke, systemic and pulmonary embolism and intracardiac thrombosis

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Myocardial infarctionup to 58 monthsDefined as the detection of a significant rise/fall of Troponin in association with symptoms of ischemia, ECG changes, proof of ischemia on imaging or intracoronary thrombus at angiography. \[Fourth definition of myocardial infarction; European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2018\]
Death from cardiovascular causesup to 58 monthsCardiovascular deaths were classified as deaths due to: ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, systemic or pulmonary embolism, other cardiovascular (i.e., myocardial infarction, sudden death, heart failure) and unobserved deaths.
Transient ischemic attackup to 58 monthsDefined as new neurologic symptoms or deficit lasting less than 24 hours with no new infarction on neuroimaging (if available).
Τhe composite of major and clinically relevant nonmajor bleedingup to 58 monthsClinically relevant nonmajor bleeding bleeding=bleeding that is clinically overt, that satisfies none of the additional criteria required for the event to be adjudicated as a major bleeding event, that led to either hospital admission for bleeding, physician-guided medical or surgical treatment for bleeding, or a change in antithrombotic therapy.
Τhe composite of stroke, systemic or pulmonary arterial thromboembolism and intracardiac thrombosis, transient ischemic attack, myocardial infarction, or cardiovascular deathup to 58 months

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Apixaban persistenceup to 58 monthsThe proportion of patients who were on apixaban at enrolment and continued receiving apixaban at the end of the study period.
General quality of lifeBaselineAssessed with questionnaire SF-36
Apixaban adherenceup to 58 monthsAssessed by reviewing electronic pharmacy prescription data

Countries

Greece

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 17, 2026