Efficacy and safety of oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation and acute myocardial infarction: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: The optimal antithrombotic therapy strategies for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remain uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral anticoagulants (OAC) among patients with AF and AMI. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched from inception till 5 February 2025. The primary outcome was any stroke. RESULTS: Eleven studies with 83 549 patients were included. OAC therapy was associated with lower risks of any stroke (odds ratio [OR]: 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.60-0.77; P < .001), ischemic stroke (OR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.57-0.73; P < .001), and all-cause mortality (OR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.74-0.89; P < .001). Additionally, OAC therapy was associated with a higher risk of any bleeding (OR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.06-1.46; P = .009), but not for major bleeding (OR: 1.28; 95% CI: 0.87-1.90; P = .21). CONCLUSIONS: OAC therapy is effective for patients with AF and AMI, but should be administered cautiously in those at high bleeding risk.