Oral anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation and acute ischaemic stroke: design and baseline data of the prospective multicentre Berlin Atrial Fibrillation Registry

EP Europace ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 1621-1632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Georg Haeusler ◽  
Serdar Tütüncü ◽  
Claudia Kunze ◽  
Johannes Schurig ◽  
Carolin Malsch ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims The Berlin Atrial Fibrillation Registry was designed to analyse oral anticoagulation (OAC) prescription in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and acute ischaemic stroke. Methods and results This investigator-initiated prospective multicentre registry enrolled patients at all 16 stroke units located in Berlin, Germany. The ongoing telephone follow-up is conducted centrally and will cover 5 years per patient. Within 2014 and 2016, 1080 patients gave written informed consent and 1048 patients were available for analysis. Median age was 77 years [interquartile range (IQR) 72–83], 503 (48%) patients were female, and 254 (24%) had a transient ischaemic attack (TIA). Overall, 470 (62%) out of 757 patients with known AF and a (pre-stroke) CHA2DS2-VASc ≥ 1 were anticoagulated at the time of stroke. At hospital discharge, 847 (81.3%) of 1042 patients were anticoagulated. Thereof 710 (68.1%) received a non-vitamin K-dependent oral anticoagulant (NOAC) and 137 (13.1%) a vitamin K antagonist (VKA). Pre-stroke intake of a NOAC [odds ratio (OR) 15.6 (95% confidence interval, 95% CI 1.97–122)] or VKA [OR 0.04 (95% CI 0.02–0.09)], an index TIA [OR 0.56 (95% CI 0.34–0.94)] rather than stroke, heart failure [OR 0.49 (95% CI 0.26–0.93)], and endovascular thrombectomy at hospital admission [OR 12.9 (95% CI 1.59–104)] were associated with NOAC prescription at discharge. Patients’ age or AF type had no impact on OAC or NOAC use, respectively. Conclusion About 60% of all registry patients with known AF received OAC at the time of stroke or TIA. At hospital discharge, more than 80% of AF patients were anticoagulated and about 80% of those were prescribed a NOAC.

Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin A Steinberg ◽  
DaJuanicia N Simon ◽  
Laine Thomas ◽  
Jack Ansell ◽  
Bernard J Gersh ◽  
...  

Background: Oral anticoagulation (OAC) is effective at preventing stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), yet warfarin is often poorly tolerated. Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are as or more effective as warfarin, yet their tolerance and persistence in clinical practice is not known. Methods: We assessed patterns of persistent OAC use among 2,345 AF patients starting on therapy in the ORBIT-AF II registry (71% starting on a NOAC, and 29% on warfarin). Results: By 6 months, 364 (22%) patients started on a NOAC had discontinued or changed initial therapy versus 143 (21%) started on warfarin initially (p=0.5). Among warfarin users, patients who switched or discontinued therapy were of similar age (median ages 72 and 74 vs. 74 for stable users, p=0.7) and CHA2DS2-VASc scores (mean 98 and 3.66 vs. 3.84, p=0.4). Among NOAC users, those who discontinued treatment were younger (median age 68 vs. 73 for those who switched and 72 for stable users; p=0.0004), and lower CHA2DS2-VASc scores (3.02 vs. 3.58 and 3.47, respectively; p=0.0008). The median time to change or discontinuation was more rapid in those started on a NOAC vs warfarin (97 days vs. 122 days, p=0.003). Among those on warfarin at baseline, 7.6% (n=52) were switched to a NOAC within 6 months, whereas transitions from NOAC to warfarin was 2.5% (n=42).Transitions among NOACs occurred in 9.8%, 3.2%, and 5.5% of patients on baseline dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban, respectively. Physician preference was the most common reason for both OAC and warfarin changes (Table). Drug cost was the primary reason for change of therapy in 15% of NOAC users (vs. 0 for warfarin). Conclusions: At 6-month follow-up, one in five newly started on OAC had discontinued or changed. These rates of change were similar among warfarin and NOAC treated patients. Cost concerns drove discontinuation in a modest number of patients, however, cost concerns were more prevalent in NOAC-treated patients.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Chilian-Hof ◽  
S Schnupp ◽  
C Mahnkopf ◽  
J Brachmann ◽  
C Kleinecke

Abstract Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent arrhythmia with a prevalence of 1%–2% in the general population. Oral anticoagulation (OAC) is state-of-the art for preventions of thromboembolic events, in particular ischemic stroke, in patients with atrial fibrillation. Despite its proven benefit, numerous studies have documented under use of OAC for a variety of reasons. Purpose To establish a program of nurse counseling in patient with atrial fibrillation and treatment with oral anticoagulation. The program is designed to improve patients satisfaction, compliance to OAC, prevention of medication errors, ischemic and bleeding events. Methods Patients with atrial fibrillation and treatment with oral anticoagulation were prospectively identified at the department of cardiology of our clinic. They received a 30 minutes nurse counseling about oral anticoagulation during the hospital stay and another 30 minutes telephone counseling 3 months after inclusion. Furthermore, they received a brochure to inform about atrial fibrillation, oral anticoagulation and methods to improve medication compliance. Demographic characteristics with stroke and bleeding risk (CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores), as well as procedural data were systematically assessed in a predefined standardized way and captured in a dedicated database. Results Between June 2017 and January 2018, a total of 617 patients (female gender: 43.1%) with atrial fibrillation and oral anticoagulation received nurse counseling. Demographic and follow-up data of 204 patients (female gender: 85/204 (41.7%); mean age 69.7±17.3, CHA2DS2-VASc score 4.2±1.7, HAS-BLED score 2.8±0.37) were assessed in a dedicated database. Indication for OAC was paroxysmal and persistent/permanent AF in 110/204 (53.9%), 93/204 (45.6%) and others 17 (8.3%), respectively. 33/2014 (16.2%) were treated with vitamin K antagonists, and 172/204 (84.3%) with non-vitamin K antagonists. After a follow-up of 0.46±2.9 years and 187 patients-years the rates of cardiovascular death, major bleeding events and all-cause stroke and TIA were 1.07%, 2.14% and 1.61% per 100 patient-years. Conclusion Nurse counseling in patients with atrial fibrillation and treatment with oral anticoagulation has been established at the REGIOMED clinics, Germany. Its effectiveness in terms of quality of live, medication complications and cardiovascular events has to be proven in a randomised trial. Acknowledgement/Funding Daichi-Sankyo


2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 996-1002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alis Heshmatollah ◽  
Puck Fransen ◽  
Olvert Berkhemer ◽  
Debbie Beumer ◽  
Aad van der Lugt ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten Haas ◽  
Jan C Purrucker ◽  
Timolaos Rizos ◽  
Peter U Heuschmann ◽  
Roland Veltkamp

Background Anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists and non-vitamin K antagonists oral anticoagulants (NOAC) is effective in stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation. However, anticoagulation also poses a major challenge for emergency treatment of patients suffering ischaemic stroke or intracerebral haemorrhage. Aim The registry RASUNOA-prime is designed to describe current patterns of emergency management, clinical course and outcome of patients with atrial fibrillation experiencing an acute ischaemic stroke or intracerebral haemorrhage under different anticoagulation schemes prior to stroke (NOAC, vitamin K antagonists or no anticoagulation). Methods and design RASUNOA-prime (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02533960) is a prospective, investigator-initiated, multicentre, observational cohort study aiming to recruit 3000 patients with acute ischaemic stroke and atrial fibrillation, and 1000 patients with acute intracerebral haemorrhage and atrial fibrillation with different anticoagulation schemes pre-stroke. It is a non-interventional triple-armed study aiming at a balanced inclusion of ischaemic stroke and intracerebral haemorrhage patients according to the different anticoagulation schemes. Patients will be followed up for clinical course, management and outcome up to three months after the event. Findings in ischaemic stroke and intracerebral haemorrhage patients on NOAC will be compared with patients taking vitamin K antagonists or no anticoagulant pre-stroke. Study outcomes Primary endpoint for ischaemic stroke patients: occurrence of symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage, for intracerebral haemorrhage patients: occurrence of secondary haematoma expansion. Secondary endpoints include assessment of coagulation, use of thrombolysis and/or mechanical thrombectomy, occurrence of complications, implementation of secondary prevention. Summary Describing the current patterns of early management as well as outcome of stroke patients with atrial fibrillation will help guide physicians to develop recommendations for emergency treatment of stroke patients under different anticoagulation schemes.


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