PATIENTS AND METHODS:
This study enrolled patients undergoing THR treated with dabigatran (110 mg loading dose then 220 mg/day for 34 days) or the LMWH dalteparin (2500 IU, 6-8 hours before surgery then 5000 IU/day for 35 days). The primary endpoint was adherence to treatment.
RESULTS:
Of the 532 patients screened and enrolled in the study, 407 (mean age 57.7 ± 12.3 years) completed the study (211 dabigatran, 196 LMWH). Over the 35 days of treatment, adherence was comparable between dabigatran and LMWH: 10.9% and 14.3% of patients receiving dabigatran and LMWH treatment missed > 1 dose of the drug, respectively. There was a lower need for external support in patients who received dabigatran (8.5% vs 58.2%; p < 0.0001) and a lower number of patients receiving dabigatran required support by a professional nurse (1.4% vs 17.3% of patients with LMWH; p < 0.0001). Dabigatran and LMWH were similarly well tolerated; however, fewer patients receiving dabigatran reported bleeding events.