Direct oral anticoagulants are effective and safe in the treatment of venous thromboembolism and atrial fibrillation in morbidly obese patients

Abstract

There has always been unresolved uncertainty regarding the therapeutic utility of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in morbidly obese patients (BMI > 40 kg/m2 or weight > 120 kg) with clinical indications for anticoagulant's use. This is due to the paucity of studies specifically designed to address this uncertainty. This formed the basis of the recommendation, by the Scientific and Standardization Committee of the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (2016), against the use of DOACs in morbidly obese patients [1].