Since the initial publication of the RE-LY (Randomized Evaluation of Long-Term Anticoagulation Therapy) study results, a total of 10 subanalyses of RE-LY data have been reported. In particular, the efficacy of administering 110 mg or 150 mg of dabigatran every 12 hours for preventing stroke and systemic embolism has been compared with that of warfarin in different clinical contexts. The study results demonstrate that dabigatran is superior to warfarin in terms of anticoagulation control, irrespective of whether patients had previously used warfarin or were taking it for the first time, whether or not they had previously had a stroke, and whether or not they had undergone electrical or pharmacologic cardioversion. Dabigatran was also found to be superior in Japanese patients, in different age groups and in patients with varying levels of stroke risk. In addition, a pharmacokinetic analysis of dabigatran in the RE-LY study population and two cost-benefit analyses have also been published. Together, these study results have achieved an equivalent impact factor of 200 and provide further evidence that dabigatran is superior to warfarin in the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism.