A study conducted by the Seoul National University Hospital has found the new anticoagulants are more effective than the existing ones in preventing atrial fibrillation patients with irregular heartbeats from suffering strokes, the hospital said Wednesday.

A research team led by Professors Choi Eun-keun_최의근 and Cha Myung-jin_차명진 from the Department of Cardiology confirmed the efficacy of Dabigatran, Apixaban, and Rivaroxaban -- three non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOAC, non-Vitamin K antagonist) -- in 44,236 patients with atrial fibrillation. The study of the drug is the largest in scale in Asia, researchers said.

The study showed that NOAC had better or equal stroke prevention effects compared to warfarin and showed 0.6 percent lower risk of cerebral hemorrhage and 1.6 percent lower mortality than the latter. The results of re-analyses through grouping by gender, age and accompanying the disease were similar.

The NOAC was introduced in Korea as a full-fledged drug in 2013 after extensive research in the U.S. and Europe. Korean patients had not used it in too small an amount to prove its safety until 2015 when the government finalized the rate of insurance benefits for the drug, however.

"There was not enough data on whether NOAC is safe and effective for Koreans," said Professor Choi. "We would like to help patients who have questions about stability and those who will research it in the future."

Professor Cha also said, "Patients with atrial fibrillation are more likely to have anticoagulation if they have two or more stroke risk factors. We are looking forward to helping those who have not received enough care due to complications.”

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