Abstract
Objective. We aim to compare the outcomes between acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients under vitamin K antagonist with those under direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). Methods. This prospective, cross‐sectional study was conducted for one year in a tertiary hospital operating as a stroke center. A total of 135 patients receiving oral anticoagulants (DOACs: 98 and VKA: 37) with AIS were included in the study. The patients’ vital parameters, examination and laboratory findings, acute stroke severity scores, stroke localizations, and 3‐month clinical outcomes were recorded. Results. Of the 135 patients, 98 (mean age: 76.2, 52 women) were on DOACs while 37 (mean age: 69.7, 26 women) were on VKA. The average age was significantly higher in the group of patients receiving DOACs (p = 0.005). Although the mean age of the patient group using DOACs was higher, they did not score worse than patients using VKAs in terms of stroke severity and 3‐month outcomes were equal in both groups. The rates of receiving iv‐tPA (8.2% and 2.7%, respectively) and thrombectomy rates (23.5% and 29.7%, respectively) were low in the DOACs and VKA groups. Conclusion. The equality in stroke severity and 3‐month outcome scores between the DOACs group, characterized by higher average age, and the VKA group is indicative of the comparable efficacy of DOACs in stroke management.