Is dabigatran a good alternative to warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation accompanied by valvular and non-valvular heart diseases? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Dabigatran 150 mg and 110 mg was superior to warfarin in AF patients with NVHD in reducing bleeding particularly ICH; However, no significant difference in reducing S/SE, and mortality. In catheter ablation, dabigatran reduced only groin hematoma. In the VHD subgroup, dabigatran did not show superiority or inferiority to warfarin; further studies are needed. "Non-valvular AF" should be replaced with "type II VHD" to distinguish it from other valvular heart diseases.