Cessation of oral anticoagulation in relation to mortality and the risk of thrombotic events in patients with atrial fibrillation

2013 ◽  
Vol 110 (12) ◽  
pp. 1189-1198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pilar Gallego ◽  
Vanessa Roldan ◽  
Francisco Marín ◽  
Marta Romera ◽  
Mariano Valdés ◽  
...  

SummaryBleeding risk (often perceived, rather than actual) is a common reason for cessation of oral anticoagulation with Vitamin K antagonists (VKA). We investigate clinical outcomes in a consecutive population of VKA naïve atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, who initiated VKA therapy in our clinic. We included consecutive VKA-naíve patients with non valvular AF, initiated on VKA therapy in our anticoagulation outpatient clinic in 2009. During follow-up, adverse events [thrombotic/vascular events (stroke, acute coronary syndrome, acute heart failure and cardiac death), major bleeding and death], and VKA cessation were recorded. At the end of the follow-up, we determined time within therapeutic range (TTR), using a linear approximation (Rosendaal method). We studied 529 patients (49% male, median age 76), median follow-up 835 days (IQR 719−954). During this period 114 patients stopped VKA treatment. 63 patients suffered a thrombotic/cardiovascular event (5.17%/year, 27 thrombotic/ischaemic strokes), 51 major bleeding (4.19%/year) and 48 died (3.94%/year). Median TTR was 54% (34a57). On multivariate analysis (adjusted by CHA2DS2-VASc score), VKA cessation was associated with death [Hazard Ratio (HR) 3.43; p<0.001], stroke [4.21; p=0.001] and thrombotic/cardiovascular events [2.72; p<0.001]. Independent risk factors for major bleeding were age [1.08; p<0.001], previous stroke [1.85; p=0.049], and TTR [0.97; p=0.001], but not VKA cessation. In conclusion, in AF patients AF, VKA cessation is independently associated with mortality stroke and cardiovascular events. Specifically, VKA cessation independently increased the risk of stroke, even after adjusting for CHA2DS2-VASc score. TTR was an independent risk factor for major bleeding following initiation of VKA therapy.Note: The editorial process for this paper was fully handled by Prof Christian Weber, Editor in Chief.

2021 ◽  
pp. ASN.2020111566
Author(s):  
An S. De Vriese ◽  
Rogier Caluwé ◽  
Hans Van Der Meersch ◽  
Koen De Boeck ◽  
Dirk De Bacquer

BackgroundIn patients with normal renal function or early stage CKD, the risk-benefit profile of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) is superior to that of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). In patients on hemodialysis, the comparative efficacy and safety of DOACs versus VKAs are unknown.MethodsIn the Valkyrie study, 132 patients on hemodialysis with atrial fibrillation were randomized to a VKA with a target INR of 2–3, 10 mg rivaroxaban daily, or rivaroxaban and vitamin K2 for 18 months. Patients continued the originally assigned treatment and follow-up was extended for at least an additional 18 months. The primary efficacy end point was a composite of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events. Secondary efficacy end points were individual components of the composite outcome and all-cause death. Safety end points were life-threatening, major, and minor bleeding.ResultsMedian (IQR) follow-up was 1.88 (1.01–3.38) years. Premature, permanent discontinuation of anticoagulation occurred in 25% of patients. The primary end point occurred at a rate of 63.8 per 100 person-years in the VKA group, 26.2 per 100 person-years in the rivaroxaban group, and 21.4 per 100 person-years in the rivaroxaban and vitamin K2 group. The estimated competing risk–adjusted hazard ratio for the primary end point was 0.41 (95% CI, 0.25 to 0.68; P=0.0006) in the rivaroxaban group and 0.34 (95% CI, 0.19 to 0.61; P=0.0003) in the rivaroxaban and vitamin K2 group, compared with the VKA group. Death from any cause, cardiac death, and risk of stroke were not different between the treatment arms, but symptomatic limb ischemia occurred significantly less frequently with rivaroxaban than with VKA. After adjustment for competing risk of death, the hazard ratio for life-threatening and major bleeding compared with the VKA group was 0.39 (95% CI, 0.17 to 0.90; P=0.03) in the rivaroxaban group, 0.48 (95% CI, 0.22 to 1.08; P=0.08) in the rivaroxaban and vitamin K2 group and 0.44 (95% CI, 0.23 to 0.85; P=0.02) in the pooled rivaroxaban groups.ConclusionsIn patients on hemodialysis with atrial fibrillation, a reduced dose of rivaroxaban significantly decreased the composite outcome of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events and major bleeding complications compared with VKA.Clinical Trial registry name and registration number:Oral Anticoagulation in Hemodialysis, NCT03799822


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


2018 ◽  
Vol 118 (02) ◽  
pp. 279-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Esteve-Pastor ◽  
José Rivera-Caravaca ◽  
Inmaculada Roldán-Rabadán ◽  
Vanessa Roldán ◽  
Javier Muñiz ◽  
...  

Background One-third of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients have chronic kidney disease (CKD), a condition that itself increases thromboembolic and major bleeding risks, especially in patients with severe CKD. Bleeding would be accentuated by suboptimal anticoagulation control with vitamin K antagonists (VKA). Purpose This article aimed to investigate the incidence of cardiovascular events, mortality and quality of anticoagulation in relation to CKD in a ‘real-world’ prospective cohort of AF patients included in the FANTASIIA registry. Methods We analysed consecutive AF patients who were prospectively recruited with a year of follow-up. The quality of anticoagulation was estimated by time in therapeutic range (TTR). The annual incidence of events was analysed. Results We studied 1,936 patients (male: 55.7%, mean: 73.8 ± 9.4 years): 445 (22.9%) had normal function, 698 (36.1%) had mild CKD, 713 (36.8%) had moderate CKD and 80 (4.2%) had severe CKD. Patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (severe CKD) had lower TTR (53.3 ± 25.6% vs. 61.8 ± 25.1%, p = 0.007) and higher proportion of poor TTR (67.2 vs. 51.8%; p = 0.014) than patients with eGFR ≥30 mL/min/1.73 m2. Severe CKD was significantly associated with cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 9.33; p = 0.002), major bleeding (HR: 2.94; p = 0.036) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (HR: 4.93; p = 0.004). Importantly, 375 patients (21.1%) showed a deteriorating eGFR of ≥10 mL/min during the follow-up, with significantly higher mortality and cardiovascular events. Conclusion In a prospective and real-world AF registry, approximately 67% of patients with severe CKD had poor anticoagulation control while taking VKA. The presence of severe CKD was an independent factor for cardiovascular mortality, MACE and major bleeding. Worsening eGFR of only ≥10 mL/min during follow-up was significantly associated with mortality and major bleeding.


2017 ◽  
Vol 117 (07) ◽  
pp. 1448-1454 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Miguel Rivera-Caravaca ◽  
Vanessa Roldán ◽  
María Asunción Esteve-Pastor ◽  
Mariano Valdés ◽  
Vicente Vicente ◽  
...  

SummaryOral anticoagulation (OAC) is highly effective preventing stroke and mortality in AF, but withdrawal is common in the elderly, when high bleeding risk and when are difficulties achieving an optimal time in therapeutic range (TTR). We analysed the rate of OAC cessation, predisposing factors to cessation and the relation to clinical outcomes in a large ‘real world’ cohort of AF patients over a long follow-up period. Consecutive non-valvular AF outpatients clinically stables for six months were recruited. Rates of cardiovascular events, major bleeding and mortality were recorded and related to OAC cessation. We included 1361 patients (48.7 % male; aged 76, IQR 71–81), followed-up for a median of 6.5 years. During follow-up, 244 patients suffered thrombotic events, 250 suffered from major bleeding and 551 patients died. 10 % of patients stopped OAC. After OAC withdrawal, there were 36 thromboembolic events (22 strokes), 10 major bleedings and 75 deaths. OAC cessation was independently associated with adverse cardiovascular events (HR 1.45; 95 % CI 1.01–2.08), stroke/TIA (HR 1.85; 1.17–2.94) and all-cause mortality (HR 1.30; 1.02–1.67). Independent predictors of OAC cessation were age ≥80 (HR 2.29; 1.60–3.29), previous coronary artery disease (HR 0.32; 0.15–0.71), major bleeding (HR 5.00; 3.49–7.15), heart failure (HR 2.38; 1.26–4.47), cancer (HR 5.24; 3.25–8.44) and renal impairment developed during follow-up (HR 2.70; 1.26–5.75). In conclusion, in non-valvular AF patients, cessation of OAC was independently associated with the risk of stroke, adverse cardiovascular events and mortality. Bleeding events and some variables associated with higher bleeding risk are responsible for OAC cessation.Note: The review process for this manuscript was fully handled by Christian Weber, Editor in Chief.Supplementary Material to this article is available online at www.thrombosis-online.com.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M.E Gimbel ◽  
D.R.P.P Chan Pin Yin ◽  
R.S Hermanides ◽  
F Kauer ◽  
A.H Tavenier ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Elderly patients form a large and growing part of the patients presenting with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Choosing the optimal antithrombotic treatment in these elderly patients is more complicated because they frequently have characteristics indicating both a high ischaemic and high bleeding risk. Purpose We describe the treatment of elderly patients (&gt;75 years) admitted with NSTEMI, present the outcomes (major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and bleeding) and aim to find predictors for adverse events. Methods The POPular AGE registry is an investigator initiated, prospective, observational, multicentre study of patients aged 75 years or older presenting with NSTEMI. Patients were recruited between August 1st, 2016 and May 7th, 2018 at 21 sites in the Netherlands. The primary composite endpoint of MACE included cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction and non-fatal stroke at one-year follow-up. Results A total of 757 patients were enrolled. During hospital stay 76% underwent coronary angiography, 34% percutaneous coronary intervention and 12% coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). At discharge 78.6% received aspirin (non-users mostly because of the combination of oral anticoagulant and clopidogrel), 49.7% were treated with clopidogrel, 34.2% with ticagrelor and 29.6% were prescribed oral anticoagulation. Eighty-three percent of patients received dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) or dual therapy consisting of oral anticoagulation and at least one antiplatelet agent for a duration of 12 months. At one year, the primary outcome of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction or stroke occurred in 12.3% of patients and major bleeding (BARC 3 or 5) occurred in 4.8% of the patients. The risk of MACE and major bleeding was highest during the first month and stayed high over time for MACE while the risk for major bleeding levelled off. Independent predictors for MACE were age, renal function, medical history of CABG, stroke and diabetes. The only independent predictor for major bleeding was haemoglobin level on admission. Conclusion In this all-comers registry, most elderly patients (≥75 years) with NSTEMI are treated with DAPT and undergoing coronary angiography the same way as younger NSTEMI patients from the SWEDEHEART registry. Aspirin use was lower as was the use of the more potent P2Y12 inhibitors compared to the SWEDEHEART which is very likely due to the concomitant use of oral anticoagulation in 30% of patients. The fact that ischemic risk stays constant over 1 year of follow-up, while the bleeding risk levels off after one month may suggest the need of dual antiplatelet therapy until at least one year after NSTEMI. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Private grant(s) and/or Sponsorship. Main funding source(s): AstraZeneca


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
TE Graca Rodrigues ◽  
N Cunha ◽  
P Silverio-Antonio ◽  
P Couto Pereira ◽  
B Valente Silva ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction There is some evidence suggesting that exaggerated hypertensive response to exercise (HRE) may be associated with higher risk of future cardiovascular events, however the relationship between systolic blood pressure (SPB) during exercise test and stroke is not fully understood. Purpose To evaluate the ability to predict the risk of stroke in patients with HRE in exercise test. Methods Single-center retrospective study of consecutive patients submitted to exercise test from 2012 to 2015 with HRE to stress test. HRE was defined as a peak systolic blood pressure (PSBP) &gt; 210 mmHg in men and &gt; 190 mmHg in women, or a rise of the SBP of 60 mmHg in men or 50 mmHg in women or as a diastolic blood pressure &gt; 90 mmHg or a rise of 10 mmHg. Patient’s demographics, baseline clinical characteristics, vital signs during the stress test and the occurrence of stroke during follow-up were analysed Results We included 458 patients with HRE (76% men, 57.5 ± 10.83 years). The most frequent comorbidities were hypertension (83%), dyslipidaemia (61%), previously known coronary disease (32%), diabetes (28%) and smoking (38%). Atrial fibrillation was present in 5.9% of patients. During a mean follow-up of 60 ± 2 months, the incidence of stroke was 2.1% (n = 8), all with ischemic origin. Considering the parameters analysed on exercise test, only PSBP demonstrated to be an independent predictor of stroke (HR 1.042, CI95% 1.002-1.084, p = 0.039,) with moderate ability to predict stroke (AUC 0.735, p = 0.0016) with a most discriminatory value of 203 mmHg (sensibility 56%, specify 67%). Regarding baseline characteristics, after age, sex and comorbidities adjustment, previously controlled hypertension was found to be an independent protective factor of stroke (OR 4.247, CI 95% 0.05-0.9, p = 0.036) and atrial fibrillation was an independent predictor of stroke occurrence (HR 8.1, CI95% 1.4-46.9, p = 0.018). Atrial fibrillation was also associated with hospitalization of cardiovascular cause and major cardiovascular events occurrence (mortality, coronary syndrome and stroke). Baseline SBP was associated with atrial fibrillation development (p = 0.008). Conclusion According to our results, PSBP during exercise test is an independent predictor of stroke occurrence and should be considered as a potencial additional tool to predict stroke occurrence, particularly in high risk patients. The identification of diagnosed hypertension as a protective factor of stroke may be explained by the cardioprotective effect of antihypertensive drugs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
T Kato ◽  
K Usuda ◽  
H Tada ◽  
T Tsuda ◽  
K Takeuchi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background High plasma B-Type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level is associated with cardiac events or stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it is still unknown whether BNP predicts worse clinical outcomes after catheter ablation ofAF. Purpose We aimed to see if plasma BNP level is associated with major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) after catheter ablation of AF. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 1,853 participants (73.1% men, mean age 63.3±10.3 years, 60.7% paroxysmal AF) who received first catheter ablation of AF with pre-ablation plasma BNP level measurement and completed follow-up more than 3 months after the procedure from AF Frontier Ablation Registry, a multicenter cohort study in Japan. We evaluated an association between plasma BNP level before catheter ablation and first MACCE in cox-regression hazard models adjusted for known risk factors. MACCE were defined as stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA), cardiovascular events or all-cause death. Results The mean plasma BNP level was 120.2±3.7 pg/mL. During a mean follow-up period of 21.9 months, 57 patients (3.1%) suffered MACCE (ischemic stroke 8 [14.0%], hemorrhagic stroke 5 [8.8%], TIA 5 [8.8%], hospitalization for heart failure 11 [19.2%], acute coronary syndrome 9 [15.8%], hospitalization for other cardiovascular events 8 [14.0%] and all-cause death 11 [19.2%]). Plasma BNP level of patients with MACCE were significantly higher than those without MACCE (291.7±47.0 vs 114.7±3.42 pg/mL, P&lt;0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that plasma BNP level (hazard ratio [HR] per 10 pg/mL increase 1.014; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.005–1.023; P=0.001), baseline age (HR 1.052; 95% CI 1.022–1.084; P=0.001), heart failure (HR 2.698; 95% CI 1.512–4.815; P=0.001), old myocardial infarction (HR 3.593; 95% CI 1.675–7.708; P=0.001) and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (HR 2.676; 95% CI 1.337 - 5.355; P=0.005) were independently associated with MACCE. At receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis, plasma BNP level before catheter ablation ≥162.7 pg/mL was the best threshold to predict MACCE (area under the curve: 0.71). Kaplan-Meier curve analysis (Figure) showed that the cumulative incidence of MACCE was significantly higher in patients with a BNP ≥162.7 pg/mL than in those with a BNP below 162.7 pg/mL (HR 4.85; 95% CI 2.86–8.21; P&lt;0.001). Conclusions Elevation of plasma BNP level was independently related to the increased risk of MACCE after catheter ablation ofAF. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): Bristol-Meiers Squibb


Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobutoyo Masunaga ◽  
Hisashi Ogawa ◽  
Yuya Aono ◽  
Syuhei Ikeda ◽  
KOSUKE DOI ◽  
...  

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) patients are likely to have concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD). A new strategy of antithrombotic therapy in AF patients with stable CAD was demonstrated in recent randomized clinical trials. Now that antithrombotic therapy for AF patients with CAD has reached a major turning point, it is important to know the prognostic factors in those patients. Purpose: In this study, we investigated clinical characteristics, cardiovascular events and prognostic factors in AF patients with CAD. Methods: The Fushimi AF Registry, a community-based prospective survey, was designed to enroll all of the AF patients who visited the participating medical institutions in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan. Follow up data including prescription status were available in 4,441 patients from March 2011 to November 2019. Of 4,441 patients, 645 patients had a history of CAD at enrollment. Results: The mean age was 76.4±8.6 and 65.9% were male. Averages of CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score and HAS-BLED score were 4.41 and 2.35, respectively. Oral anticoagulant (OAC) was prescribed in 52.9% of those patients and antiplatelet drug (APD) was prescribed in 70.4%. The combination of OAC and APD was prescribed in 36.0%. During follow-up period (median 1,495 days), cardiac death occurred in 51 patients, composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke in 136, and major bleeding in 77 (1.8, 5.1 and 2.9 per 100 person-years, respectively). In multivariate analysis, factors associated with composite of cardiac death, MI and stroke in AF patients with CAD were low body weight (<=50kg) (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]; 1.62 [1.07-2.47]), previous stroke (1.69 [1.13-2.52]), heart failure (1.47 [1.02-2.11]), hypertension (0.60 [0.41-0.87]) and diabetes mellitus (1.62 [1.13-2.32]). Furthermore, factors associated with major bleeding in AF patients with CAD were anemia (male: hemoglobin<12 g/dl, female: hemoglobin<11 g/dl) (1.82 [1.09-3.04]) and thrombocytopenia (<150,000 /μL) (3.02 [1.29-7.03]). Conclusion: In Japanese AF patients with CAD, low body weight, previous stroke, heart failure, hypertension and diabetes mellitus were associated with cardiovascular events, and anemia and thrombocytopenia were associated with major bleeding.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. e033283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederik Dalgaard ◽  
Karen Pieper ◽  
Freek Verheugt ◽  
A John Camm ◽  
Keith AA Fox ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo externally validate the accuracy of the Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) model against existing risk scores for stroke and major bleeding risk in patients with non-valvular AF in a population-based cohort.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingDanish nationwide registries.Participants90 693 patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular AF were included between 2010 and 2016, with follow-up censored at 1 year.Primary and secondary outcome measuresExternal validation was performed using discrimination and calibration plots. C-statistics were compared with CHA2DS2VASc score for ischaemic stroke/systemic embolism (SE) and HAS-BLED score for major bleeding/haemorrhagic stroke outcomes.ResultsOf the 90 693 included, 51 180 patients received oral anticoagulants (OAC). Overall median age (Q1, Q3) were 75 (66–83) years and 48 486 (53.5%) were male. At 1-year follow-up, a total of 2094 (2.3%) strokes/SE, 2642 (2.9%) major bleedings and 10 915 (12.0%) deaths occurred. The GARFIELD-AF model was well calibrated with the predicted risk for stroke/SE and major bleeding. The discriminatory value of GARFIELD-AF risk model was superior to CHA2DS2VASc for predicting stroke in the overall cohort (C-index: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.70 to 0.72 vs C-index: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.66 to 0.68, p<0.001) as well as in low-risk patients (C-index: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.59 to 0.69 vs C-index: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.53 to 0.61, p=0.007). The GARFIELD-AF model was comparable to HAS-BLED in predicting the risk of major bleeding in patients on OAC therapy (C-index: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.63 to 0.66 vs C-index: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.63 to 0.65, p=0.60).ConclusionIn a nationwide Danish cohort with non-valvular AF, the GARFIELD-AF model adequately predicted the risk of ischaemic stroke/SE and major bleeding. Our external validation confirms that the GARFIELD-AF model was superior to CHA2DS2VASc in predicting stroke/SE and comparable with HAS-BLED for predicting major bleeding.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (02) ◽  
pp. 088-097
Author(s):  
Anwar Santoso ◽  
Sunu B. Raharjo

AbstractAtrial fibrillation (AF), the most prevalent arrhythmic disease, tends to foster thrombus formation due to hemodynamic disturbances, leading to severe disabling and even fatal thromboembolic diseases. Meanwhile, patients with AF may also present with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and coronary artery disease (CAD) requiring stenting, which creates a clinical dilemma considering that majority of such patients will likely receive oral anticoagulants (OACs) for stroke prevention and require additional double antiplatelet treatment (DAPT) to reduce recurrent cardiac events and in-stent thrombosis. In such cases, the gentle balance between bleeding risk and atherothromboembolic events needs to be carefully considered. Studies have shown that congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥ 75 years (doubled), diabetes mellitus, and previous stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA; doubled)–vascular disease, age 65 to 74 years, sex category (female; CHA2DS2-VASc) scores outperform other scoring systems in Asian populations and that the hypertension, abnormal renal/liver function (1 point each), stroke, bleeding history or predisposition, labile international normalized ratio (INR), elderly (>65 years), drugs/alcohol concomitantly (1 point each; HAS-BLED) score, a simple clinical score that predicts bleeding risk in patients with AF, particularly among Asians, performs better than other bleeding scores. A high HAS-BLED score should not be used to rule out OAC treatment but should instead prompt clinicians to address correctable risk factors. Therefore, the current review attempted to analyze available data from patients with nonvalvular AF who underwent stenting for ACS or CAD and elaborate on the direct-acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC) and antiplatelet management among such patients. For majority of the patients, “triple therapy” comprising OAC, aspirin, and clopidogrel should be considered for 1 to 6 months following ACS. However, the optimal duration for “triple therapy” would depend on the patient's ischemic and bleeding risks, with DOACs being obviously safer than vitamin-K antagonists.


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