A Nationwide Observational Study Looking at Effectiveness and Bleeding Complications of NOACs vs. VKA in Non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation Patients.

Using mandatory nationwide registries and possibly hospital electronic medical records in Norway, the researchers want to understand how well a group of drugs called "non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants" (rivaroxaban - Xarelto; apixaban - Eliquis; dabigatran - Pradaxa) works in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (this is a condition when the heart beats irregularly) compared to another older drug, a vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (warfarin) and how safe these drugs are. The primary objective of the study is to assess the occurence of an ischemic stroke (a condition when an artery that brings blood to the brain is blocked) and intracranial hemorrhage (a serious condition when a diseased blood vessel within the brain bursts).