Comparison Between Direct Oral Anticoagulation (DOAC) Interruption and DOAC Continuation in Patients Undergoing Elective Invasive Coronary Angiography or Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Rationale: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) often have coexisting coronary artery disease (CAD). An estimated 5 to 15% of all AF patients will require coronary stenting. Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOAC) are more commonly used in preventing thromboembolic complications in patients with AF, thereby substituting the use of Vitamin-K Antagonists (VKA). Therefore, many patients undergoing invasive coronary angiography (ICA) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are taking direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC). In patients using VKA it is recommended to defer elective coronary angiography until international Normalized Ratio (INR) is <2.2 when radial artery access is used. However, no large clinical trials have proven the safety of continuing DOAC use when undergoing ICA or PCI. The current guidelines recommend interrupting DOAC treatment at least 24 before ICA or PCI; however, this recommendation is only based on limited data. Clinical decisions on DOAC use must therefore be based on clinical trials in which substantial numbers of patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) were included.

Objective: To study the safety of DOAC continuation in patients undergoing ICA or PCI.

Study design: A prospective, multicenter, 1:1 randomized, investigator initiated study.

Study population: Patients aged >18 years using DOAC and undergoing elective ICA or PCI.

Intervention: The intervention group will continue using DOAC as usual. No adjustments of DOAC use will be made before and after ICA or PCI. The control group will receive standard care. DOAC use will be interrupted at least 24-48 hours in advance of ICA or PCI, based on renal clearance and DOAC specimen.