Effect of preinjury use of direct oral anticoagulants vs. Vitamin K antagonists on outcomes of hip fracture: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE: Elderly patients with hip fractures are frequently under anticoagulant therapy. We aimed to assess if outcomes of hip fracture patients undergoing surgical intervention differ with prior use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) or Vitamin K antagonists (VKA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed, Em base, and Google Scholar were searched for comparative studies published up to June 20, 2021. Dichotomous variables were summarized using odds ratio (OR) and continuous variables using mean difference (MD). RESULTS: Fourteen studies were included. There was no difference in the time to surgery between patients on DOAC or VKA (MD: 2.50 95% CI-2.10, 7.10 I-2=76% p=0.29). Number of undergoing surgeries within 48 hours was not significantly different between the two groups (OR: 0.77 95% CI 0.56, 1.06 I-2=10% p=0.10). Mortality rates (OR: 0.84 95% CI 0.62, 1.14 I-2=12% p=0.27), blood transfusion requirement (OR: 1.08 95% CI 0.80, 1.47 I-2=3 0% p=0.62) and length of hospital stay (MD: 0.26 95% CI-0.70, 1.21 I-2=0% p=0.6 0) was also not significantly different between patients on DOAC or VKA. CONCLUSIONS: There is no difference in surgical delay, early mortality, blood transfusion rates and length of hospital stay between DO AC uses and VKA users undergoing hip fracture surgery.