Apixaban is one of the new oral anticoagulants, which is prescribed as an alternative to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). Concerns regarding its bleeding profile persist and require further evaluation. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare the risks of bleeding and all-cause mortality between apixaban and VKAs. The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library of Clinical Trials databases were systematically searched for RCTs comparing the risks of bleeding and all-cause mortality of apixaban (2.5 or 5 mg twice daily) with those of VKAs.
