Low-dose NOAC Versus GDMT After LAAO (RECORD-III)

Low-dose Rivaroxaban Monotherapy Versus Guideline Determined Medication Therapy After Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion: a Randomized, Open-label, Multicentre, Superiority Trial

The increased risk of Atrial fibrillation (AF) regarding thromboembolic stroke is predominantly due to the formation and embolization of clots from within the left atrial appendage (LAA). Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is a nonpharmacological strategy for stroke prevention in patients with AF. Data from randomized trials, including PROTECT-AF, PREVAIL, and Prague-17, have suggested that LAAO has comparable efficacy to warfarin or NOACs. Considering these results, LAAO was recommended by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines as a non-pharmacological stroke prevention strategy for patients with NVAF who have contraindications or are unsuitable for OAC. The PROTECT-AF and PREVAIL trials stipulated the use of standardized antithrombotic medications which were designed to minimize the risk of stroke, systemic embolism, or device-related thrombosis. This antithrombotic strategy was subsequently endorsed by the guidelines, briefly, patients with LAAO were discharged on warfarin and aspirin for 45 days post-LAAO, if there was no leak or a leak ≤5 mm under transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) at 45-day follow-up, antithrombotic strategies shall switch to dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) until 6 months post-LAAO, and then aspirin thereafter. Although LAAO was recommended by medical societies, previous patient-level meta-analyses have implied that compared with oral anticoagulation, LAAO had significantly more ischemic strokes, suggesting the inability of LAAO to prevent an ischemic stroke from sources beyond LAA. Will a combined strategy of LAAO and OAC further reduce the risk of stroke? The investigators hypothesized that a long-term low dose-Rivaroxaban (10mg daily) post-LAAO might be a potent supplement to the residue risk of ischemic stroke.

HAS-BLED<3: Rivaroxaban 15 mg QD for 3 months, followed by Rivaroxaban 10 mg QD indefinitely HAS-BLED≥3: Rivaroxaban 10 mg QD for 3 months, followed by Rivaroxaban 2.5 mg bid indefinitely

HAS-BLED<3: Rivaroxaban 15 mg QD + Aspirin 100mg QD for 3 months, then Aspirin 100mg QD indefinitely HAS-BLED≥3: Aspirin 100mg QD + Clopidogrel 75mg QD for 3 months, then Aspirin 100mg QD indefinitely

Rate of the composite endpoint of any death, any stroke, systemic embolism, and The Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC)-defined 3 or 5 bleeding events

Rate of the composite endpoint of any death, any stroke, systemic embolism, and BARC defined 3 or 5 bleeding events

Rate of the composite endpoint of any death, any stroke, systemic embolism, myocardial infarction (MI)

Global Use of Strategies to Open Occluded Arteries, (GUSTO) defined major bleeding and/or minor bleeding

International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) defined major bleeding and/or clinically relevant minor bleeding

Adherence is defined as the participant who uses the medication strategies in this trial achieving 80% of the time on the therapeutic range

The NIHSS is composed of 11 items, each of which scores a specific ability between a 0 and 4. For each item, a score of 0 typically indicates normal function in that specific ability, while a higher score is indicative of some level of impairment. The individual scores from each item are summed in order to calculate a patient's total NIHSS score. The maximum possible score is 42, with the minimum score being a 0.

The Modified Rankin Score (mRS) is a 6 point disability scale with possible scores ranging from 0 to 5. A separate category of 6 is usually added for patients who expire. The Modified Rankin Score (mRS) is the most widely used outcome measure in stroke clinical trials.

The descriptive system comprises five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Each dimension has 5 levels: no problems, slight problems, moderate problems, severe problems and extreme problems. The patient is asked to indicate his/her health state by ticking the box next to the most appropriate statement in each of the five dimensions. This decision results in a 1-digit number that expresses the level selected for that dimension. The digits for the five dimensions can be combined into a 5-digit number that describes the patient's health state.

Inclusion Criteria: Non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients with successful left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) Eligible for guideline-directed anti-thrombotic therapy Able to understand and provide informed consent and comply with all study medications Exclusion Criteria: Under the age of 18 Unable to give informed consent or currently participating in another trial and not yet at its primary endpoint Patient is a woman who is pregnant or nursing (a pregnancy test must be performed within 7 days prior to the index procedure in women of child-bearing potential according to local practice) Concurrent medical condition with a life expectancy of less than two years Haemodynamical unstable Known contraindication to medications such as heparin, antiplatelet or anticoagulation drugs, or contrast Peridevice leak > 5mm as assessed immediately after LAAO or any other procedure-related complications Comorbidities other than atrial fibrillation that required long term use of anticoagulation (such as implanted mechanical valve) Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within 1 year. The patient had or is planning to have any cardiac or non-cardiac interventional or surgical procedure within 30 days prior to or 60 days after the WATCHMAN device implant (e.g., PCI, cardioversion, cardiac surgery) Ongoing overt bleeding Previous stroke/TIA within 30 days of enrolment Symptomatic carotid artery disease Severe renal insufficiency (CrCl≤30ml/min/1.73m2)