Factors that may in uence which anticoagulant is chosen for initial and long-term treatment of VTE are summarized in Table 6. This decision is also expected to be sensitive to patient preferences. The order of our presentation of the NOACs (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban) is based on the chronology of publication of the phase 3 trials in VTE treatment and should not be interpreted as the guideline panel s order of preference for the use of these agents. TABLE 2 ] Summary of Findings: Dabigatran vs VKA for Long-Term Treatment of VTEa,b Outcomes No. of Participants (Studies) Follow-up Quality of the Evidence (GRADE) Relative Effect Anticipated Absolute Effects Risk with VKA Risk Difference with Dabigatran (95% CI) All-cause mortality Moderatec because of imprecision (from 6 fewer to 9 more) Recurrent VTE 5,107 Moderatec because of imprecision (from 5 fewer to 13 more) Major bleeding 5,107 Moderatec because of imprecision (from 10 fewer to 2 more) The basis for the assumed risk (eg, the median control group risk across studies) is provided in the footnotes. The corresponding risk (and its 95% CI) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI). RE-COVER I Ef cacy and Safety of Dabigatran Compared to Warfarin for 6 Month Treatment of Acute Symptomatic Venous Thromboembolism; RE-COVER II Phase III Study Testing Ef cacy & Safety of Oral Dabigatran Etexilate vs Warfarin for 6 m Treatment for Acute Symptomatic Venous Thromboembolism. See Table 1 legend for expansion of other abbreviations and GRADE Working Group grades of evidence. a Patients with acute VTE treated initially with LMWH or UFH. b Dabigatran 150 mg twice daily vs warfarin. c CI includes values suggesting no effect and values suggesting either bene t or harm. 