Although not formally tested in this analysis, it is possible that concerns around the potential of dabigatran to increase rates of myocardial ischemia/infarction risk [20], which were not shown in the corresponding rivaroxaban phase III Rivaroxaban Once daily, Oral, Direct Factor Xa Inhibition Compared with Vitamin K Antagonism for Prevention of Stroke and Embolism Trial in Atrial Fibrillation (ROCKET AF) study [21], may at least partially explain the lower rate of persistence and higher rate of discontinuation with dabigatran in our study. This evidence concerns the gene TNXA and infarction.