scholarly journals Antiplatelet therapy is not a safer alternative to oral anticoagulants, even in older hospital-discharged patients with atrial fibrillation

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario Bo ◽  
Yolanda Falcone ◽  
Enrica Grisoglio ◽  
Margherita Marchetti ◽  
Federica Li Puma ◽  
...  

Although oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) is recommended for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), it is widely underused among older patients, who are frequently prescribed antiplatelet therapy (APT) instead. We assessed mortality and incidence of ischemic and hemorrhagic events according to prescription of OAT or APT in older medical in-patients with AF discharged from hospital. Stroke and bleeding risk were evaluated using the CHA<sub>2</sub>DS<sub>2</sub>-VASC (<em>Congestive heart failure/ left ventricular dysfunction, Hypertension, Aged ≥75 years, Diabetes Mellitus, Stroke/transient ischemic attack/systemic embolism, Vascular Disease, Aged 65-74 years, Sex Category</em>) and HAS-BLED (<em>Hypertension, Abnormal renal/liver function, Stroke, Bleeding history or predisposition, Labile international normalized ratio, Elderly, Drugs/alcohol concomitantly</em>) scores. Comorbidity, cognitive status and functional autonomy were assessed using standardized scales. Association of OAT and APT with overall mortality, ischemic stroke and bleeding events was evaluated through multivariate analysis and propensity score matching. During a mean follow-up period of 11 months 384 of the 962 patients discharged (mean age 82.9±6.6 years, 59.1% female) died (39.9%), 66 had an ischemic stroke and 49 experienced a major bleeding event. Compared with APT, OAT was associated with reduced overall mortality after multivariate analysis [odds ratio (OR) 0.62, confidence interval (CI): 0.46-0.83] and after propensity score matched analysis (OR 0.65, CI: 0.52-0.82, P=0.0004), with a not significant reduced incidence of total and fatal ischemic stroke, and without increase in total, intracranial, major and fatal bleedings. In a sample of older AF patients with poor health status, OAT was associated with reduced mortality, without evidence of a significant increase in major or fatal bleedings.

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_G) ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrico Guido Spinoni ◽  
Matteo Santagostino ◽  
Simona Costantino ◽  
Eleonora Battistini ◽  
Gabriele Dell’Era ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are known for lower bleeding risk than vitamin K antagonist (VKA) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). To date, it has not been established whether in such population DOAC may offer reduction of bleeding complication in patients undergoing cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implant or revision (substitution, upgrade, or downgrade). We evaluated whether DOACs compared to VKAs, decrease bleeding complications at the time of CIED implant in patients with AF, requiring oral anticoagulant therapy. Methods and results We present a monocentric observational retrospective study. Patients undergoing implant, generator replacement, or upgrading/downgrading of an intracardiac device (PM, ICD, or CRT) between January 2015 and March 2021 with AF undergoing DOAC or VKA were included. The comparison of risk of clinically significant pocket hematoma at 30-days follow-up in the two-treatment group [DOAC vs. VKA and DOAC vs. VKA without low molecular weight eparin (LMWH) bridge] was performed. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis including main clinical findings was performed to test the primary endpoint. Propensity score matching analysis was performed, with inversed proportional weighted (IPW) propensity score included in the multivariate analysis. 311 patients were included, 146 (46.9%) treated with DOAC and 165 (53.1%) treated with VKA. The incidence pocket haematoma was significantly reduced in patients treated with DOAC compared with VKA (3.4% vs. 13.3%, respectively, P = 0.002), a finding confirmed on multivariate analysis (HR: 3.02, CI: 1.10–8.29, P = 0.032). The incidence of pocket haematoma in patients on DOAC vs. VKA without LMWH bridge therapy was found to be significantly higher in the latter group of patients (P = 0.033, HR: 2.93, CI: 1.01–8.49, P = 0.48). After adjusting at propensity score with IPW, DOAC use showed decreased risk of pocket haematoma (HR: 0.29, CI: 0.09–0.95, P = 0.42). Conclusions In patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing CIED implant or revision, DOAC therapy appears to be associated with lower risk of event-related pocket haematoma at 30-day follow-up, even in the absence of bridging with LWMH. Such findings are hypothesis-generating.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung-Chi Hsu ◽  
Chen-Yu Huang ◽  
Shu-Lin Chuang ◽  
Hsu-Yu Yu ◽  
Yih-Sharng Chen ◽  
...  

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) results in a longer hospital stay and excess mortality. However, whether POAF would increase stroke rate has been debated for years. When and how long should anticoagulation be used to prevent stroke are unknown. In the study, we planned to investigate the clinical demographics and long-term outcomes of POAF after cardiac surgery in a single-center cohort.Methods: The cohort study used a database from National Taiwan University Hospital, a single tertiary medical center in Taiwan, between 2007 and 2017, to identify patients with prior normal sinus rhythm developing POAF after cardiac surgery. Patients without POAF after cardiac surgery were used as controls. Propensity score matching with 1:1 ratio and Cox regression models were employed to estimate the risk of transient ischemic accident (TIA) or ischemic stroke.Results: From 2007 to 2017, a total of 8,374 patients received open-heart surgery, in which 1,585 patients with a history of AF were excluded. The overall incidence of TIA/ischemic stroke was 3.9% in a median 9.2-years of follow-up. After propensity matching, 1,965 matched paired subjects were included for analysis. Postoperative atrial fibrillation was associated with an increased risk of future AF [Hazard ratio (HR) 1.40, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.09–1.79, p = 0.008] and heart failure (HF) hospitalization (HR 1.58, 95%CI 1.23–2.04, p &lt; 0.001); however, POAF did not significantly correlate with the risk of TIA/ischemic stroke (HR 1.17, 95%CI 0.85–1.60, p = 0.043). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that POAF was a significant predictor for future AF, HF hospitalization, and overall mortality, but not for TIA/ischemic stroke.Conclusion: In the Asian population, POAF after cardiac surgery increased the risk of future AF, HF, and overall mortality, but was not associated with future TIA/ischemic stroke.


Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ovais Inamullah ◽  
Alec McConnell ◽  
Hussein Al-khalidi ◽  
Gerald S Bloomfield ◽  
Shreyansh Shah

Background: Mobile Cardiac outpatient telemetry (MCOT) is often used for patients (pts) with cryptogenic ischemic stroke following hospital discharge to detect atrial fibrillation (AFib) but criteria for patient selection remains a subject of debate. Methods: We identified 297 pts hospitalized with acute ischemic stroke who had an inpatient transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) and underwent MCOT upon discharge between 2016 and 2018 at a large academic comprehensive stroke center. Pts characteristics between AFib vs. no AFib were compared by Fisher’s exact test for categorical and Wilcoxon rank-sum test for continuous variables. A multivariable stepwise logistic regression model was developed to determine the predictors of AFib detection. Statistical hypotheses were tested as two-sided at 0.05 level of significance. Results: Of the 297 pts, AFib was detected in 24 (8.1%) on 30-day MCOT. Pts with AFib detected were older, white, and have had a larger left atrial area (Table). The final logistic model demonstrated that white race (vs. non-white) (OR 4.86, 1.53-15.41), left atrial area (OR 1.15, 1.05-1.25) and left ventricular internal diameter in diastole (OR 0.33, 0.16-0.67) were associated with AFib detection by MCOT. Conclusion: Although rates of AFib detection on 30-day MCOT post-discharge was low, there are important patient characteristics and TTE features that can improve patient selection. Further studies are needed to determine if this data can be used prospectively to clinically decide which pts with cryptogenic stroke should be given 30-day MCT to detect atrial fibrillation.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dicken Kong ◽  
Jiandong Zhou ◽  
Sharen Lee ◽  
Keith Sai Kit Leung ◽  
Tong Liu ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundIn this territory-wide, observational, propensity score-matched cohort study, we evaluate the development of transient ischaemic attack and ischaemic stroke (TIA/Ischaemic stroke) in patients with AF treated with edoxaban or warfarin.MethodsThis was an observational, territory-wide cohort study of patients between January 1st, 2016 and December 31st, 2019, in Hong Kong. The inclusion were patients with i) atrial fibrillation, and ii) edoxaban or warfarin prescription. 1:2 propensity score matching was performed between edoxaban and warfarin users. Univariate Cox regression identifies significant risk predictors of the primary, secondary and safety outcomes. Hazard ratios (HRs) with corresponding 95% confidence interval [CI] and p values were reported.ResultsThis cohort included 3464 patients (54.18% males, median baseline age: 72 years old, IQR: 63-80, max: 100 years old), 664 (19.17%) with edoxaban use and 2800 (80.83%) with warfarin use. After a median follow-up of 606 days (IQR: 306-1044, max: 1520 days), 91(incidence rate: 2.62%) developed TIA/ischaemic stroke: 1.51% (10/664) in the edoxaban group and 2.89% (81/2800) in the warfarin group. Edoxaban was associated with a lower risk of TIA or ischemic stroke when compared to warfarin.ConclusionsEdoxaban use was associated with a lower risk of TIA or ischemic stroke after propensity score matching for demographics, comorbidities and medication use.


2016 ◽  
Vol 42 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 346-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adnan I. Qureshi ◽  
Nauman Jahangir ◽  
Ahmed A. Malik ◽  
Mohammad Rauf Afzal ◽  
Fayyaz Orfi ◽  
...  

Importance: The risk of ischemic stroke during periods of warfarin discontinuation for surgical procedures is recognized but not well characterized. Objective: The study aimed to quantitate the risk of ischemic stroke associated with high risk atrial fibrillation during periods of warfarin discontinuation. Design, Setting and Participants: A cohort of 4,060 patients (mean follow-up period of 3.5 ± 1.3 years) were randomized into the Atrial Fibrillation Follow-Up Investigation of Rhythm Management study. Patients enrolled in the study had atrial fibrillation plus at least one other risk factor for stroke or death: age ≥65 years', systemic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, transient ischemic attack, prior stroke, left atrium >50 mm, left ventricular fractional shortening <25% or left ventricular ejection fraction <40%. Exposure: Warfarin discontinuation for procedure. Main Outcome and Measures: The association of warfarin discontinuation with the incidence of ischemic stroke using pooled repeated measures and Cox proportional hazards analyses during follow-up after adjusting for age, gender, obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, cigarette smoking and study period. Results: Warfarin discontinuation for procedure occurred in 265 (0.4%) of the 71,355 person observations. Compared with those without warfarin discontinuation, the rate of ischemic stroke was higher among participants with surgery-related warfarin discontinuation (1.1% of 265 person observations vs. 0.2% of 71,090 person observations, p = 0.001). Warfarin discontinuation was associated with an increased risk for ischemic stroke (relative risk 5.8; 95% CI 1.8-18.4) after adjusting for potential confounders. The population-attributable risk associated with surgery-related warfarin discontinuation was estimated to be 23.1% (95% CI 15.2-30.9%) for ischemic stroke. Conclusions and Relevance: The 6-fold higher risk of ischemic stroke associated with discontinuation of warfarin for surgical procedures must be recognized in high risk atrial fibrillation patients and considered in the risk-benefit analysis of any procedure.


Author(s):  
Chinmay G Deshpande ◽  
Cynthia Willey Temkin ◽  
Robert Laforge ◽  
Stephen Kogut

Introduction: Dabigatran and Rivaroxaban have shown better or similar efficacy to lower stroke risk compared to warfarin in clinical trials. Evidence suggests adherence to cardiac drugs tend to reduce outcomes and cost. Our study is the first to examine the impact of atleast 6 to 12 month adherence to NOACs on ischemic stroke, major bleeding, Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism (DVTPE) risk in a propensity score based matched sample. Methods: A retrospective cohort study utilized de-identified data from Optum® Clinformatics™ Data Mart database (OptumInsight, Eden Prairie, MN) (Jan 1, 2010 and Dec 31, 2012). Adult patients with ≥ 1 diagnosis of atrial fibrillation or flutter (ICD9 427.31/32), >1 prescription of NOACs, 6 months pre-index continuous enrollment and CHA2DS2VASC score >1 were included. Adherence was calculated using Proportion of Days Covered (PDC ≥80%) for atleast 6 and 12 months of NOAC use and cohorts (adherent vs. non adherent) were matched on propensity score using Inverse Probability Treatment Weighting (IPTW) controlling for demographic and clinical characteristics at baseline. The risk of ischemic stroke, major bleeding (primary outcomes) and DVTPE (exploratory outcome) was evaluated for the matched cohorts post adherence assessment using Cox regression. Results: Out of 25,150 NOAC patients, a total of 3,629 and 1,946 patients with atleast 6 and 12 months of NOAC use were included. Across 2 cohorts, the mean age of the sample was 65 years, 65% were males and >60% had a moderate-high risk of stroke (CHA2DS2VASC>2). Adherence (PDC ≥80%) was 77% and 76% for patients with 6 and 12 month drug use. Post 12 months of drug use, the overall incidence of bleeding, stroke, and DVTPE in the follow-up period was 4.42%, 1.80%, and 0.82% respectively. Each outcome was analyzed separately to avoid calculation of competing risks. Using Cox models with IPTW balanced cohorts, non-adherence was significantly (p ≤0.05) associated with an increase in stroke (≥ 1.5 fold) and DVTPE (≥ 2 fold) risk in both 6 and 12 month users. The risk of bleeding was not significantly different across adherent vs. non adherent users (Table). Conclusion: In our sample, adherence to NOACs was associated with a reduction in stroke and DVTPE risk but did not substantially increase bleeding risk. Further studies with newer NOACs are warranted.


Author(s):  
Joris J Komen ◽  
Tomas Forslund ◽  
Aukje K Mantel-Teeuwisse ◽  
Olaf H Klungel ◽  
Mia von Euler ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims To analyze 90-day mortality in AF patients after a stroke or a severe bleed and assess associations with the type of antithrombotic treatment at the event. Methods and Results From the Stockholm Healthcare database, we selected 6 017 patients with a known history of AF who were diagnosed with ischemic stroke, 3 006 with intracranial hemorrhage, and 4 291 with a severe gastrointestinal bleed (GIB). The 90-day mortality rates were 25.1% after ischemic stroke, 31.6% after intracranial hemorrhage, and 16.2% after severe GIB. We used Cox regression and propensity score matched analyses to test the association between antithrombotic treatment at the event and 90-day mortality. After intracranial hemorrhage, there was a significantly higher mortality rate in warfarin compared to NOAC treated patients (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 1.36 CI: 1.04 – 1.78). After an ischemic stroke and a severe GIB, patients receiving antiplatelets or no antithrombotic treatment had significantly higher mortality rates compared to patients on NOACs, but there was no difference comparing warfarin to NOACs (aHR 0.84 CI: 0.63 – 1.12 after ischemic stroke, aHR 0.91 CI: 0.66 – 1.25 after severe GIB). Propensity score matched analysis yielded similar results. Conclusion Mortality rates were high in AF patients suffering from an ischemic stroke, an intracranial hemorrhage, or a severe GIB. NOAC treatment was associated with a lower 90 day mortality after intracranial hemorrhage than warfarin.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Iwanami ◽  
K Jujo ◽  
S Higuchi ◽  
T Abe ◽  
M Shoda ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In the last two decades, catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) including pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) has been developed as a standard and effective treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). In patients with chronic heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (HFrEF), PVI CA for AF dramatically improves LVEF, resulting in better clinical prognoses. On the contrary, there still has been no data that PVI CA for AF improves the prognosis in heart failure patients with preserved LVEF (HFpEF). Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of PVI CA for AF after the hospitalization due to decompensation of heart failureHF, focusing on LVEF. Methods From the database including 1,793 consecutive patients who were hospitalized due to congestive HF, we ultimately analyzed 624 AF patients who were discharged alive. They were assigned into two groups due that PVI CA for AF procedure done after the index hospitalization for HF; the PVI CA group (n=62) and Non-PVI CA group (n=562). For the two groups, we performed propensity-score (PS) matching using variables as follows: age, sex, LVEF, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at discharge. Further analysis was performed separately in HFrEF (LVEF &lt;50%) and HFpEF (LVEF &gt;50%). The primary endpoint of this study was death from any cause. Results In unmatched patients, Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients in the PVI CA group had a significantly lower all-cause mortality than those in the Non-PVI CA group during 678 median follow-up period (Log-rank test: P=0.003, Figure A). In 96 PS-matched patients, patients in the PVI CA group still had lower mortality rate than those in the Non-PVI CA group (hazard ratio 0.28, 95% confidence interval 0.09–0.86, p=0.018, Figure B). When the whole study population was classified into HFrEF and HFpEF, HFrEF patients who received PVI showed a significantly lower mortality than those who did not (p=0.007); whereas, in HFpEF patients, PVI CA for AF did not make statistical difference in all-cause mortality (p=0.061). Conclusions In this observational study, PVI CA for AF may improve the mortality in HF patients with reduced LVEF. However, the prognostic impact of PVI CA for AF was not observed in HF patients with preserved LVEF. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


Cardiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 145 (3) ◽  
pp. 168-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Muscari ◽  
Pietro Barone ◽  
Luca Faccioli ◽  
Marco Ghinelli ◽  
Marco Pastore Trossello ◽  
...  

Introduction: To assess the probability of undetected atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with ischemic stroke, we previously compared patients who were first diagnosed with AF with patients with large or small artery disease and obtained the MrWALLETS 8-item scoring system. In the present study, we utilized cryptogenic strokes (CS) as the control group, as AF is normally sought among CS patients. Methods: We retrospectively examined 191 ischemic stroke patients (72.5 ± 12.6 years), 68 with first diagnosed AF and 123 with CS, who had undergone 2 brain CT scans, echocardiography, carotid/vertebral ultrasound, continuous electrocardiogram monitoring and anamnestic/laboratory search for cardiovascular risk factors. Results: In logistic regression, 5 variables were independently associated with AF, forming the “ACTEL” score: Age ≥75 years (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.18–4.96, p = 0.02; +1 point); hyperCholesterolemia (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.18–0.78, p = 0.009; –1 point); Tricuspid regurgitation ≥ mild-to-moderate (OR 4.99, 95% CI 1.63–15.27, p = 0.005; +1 point); left ventricular End-diastolic volume <65 mL (OR 7.43, 95% CI 2.44–22.6, p = 0.0004; +1 point); Left atrium ≥4 cm (OR 4.57, 95% CI 1.97–10.62, p = 0.0004; +1 point). The algebraic sum of these points may range from –1 to +4. For AF identification, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.80 (95% CI 0.73–0.87). With a cutoff of ≥2, positive predictive value was 80.8%, specificity 92.7% and sensitivity 55.9%. Conclusions: The ACTEL score, a simplified and improved version of the MrWALLETS score, allows the identification of patients with first diagnosed AF, in the context of CSs, with a high positive predictive value.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
G Montrasio ◽  
M Coslovsky ◽  
A Wiencierz ◽  
C Baumgartner ◽  
N Rodondi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have a similar efficacy in terms of stroke and mortality reduction as compared to Vitamin K-Antagonists (VKAs) and improved safety with regards to intracranial haemorrhage in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). Dose of DOACs needs to be adjusted according to age, weight, renal function and concomitant medication. Yet, off-label dosages have been reported in 11 - 45% of patients (on average 20%). Purpose To assess the prevalence of inappropriate DOAC-dosing according to the official prescribing information in two large prospective Swiss AF cohorts (Swiss-AF and BEAT-AF) and to evaluate its correlation with adverse clinical outcomes. Methods All 3267 patients taking oral anticoagulants were stratified at baseline as receiving DOACs (adequately dosed, under- or overdosed) or VKAs. Appropriateness of DOAC dosing was assessed based on age (≥80 years), weight (≤60kg) and renal function (serum creatinine ≥133μmol/l [apixaban]; creatinine clearence ≤50ml/min [all other DOACs]). Clinical outcomes were collected during a median follow-up of 2.96 years. Major adverse clinical events (MACE) consisted of a combination of myocardial infarction, cardiac death, ischemic stroke and systemic embolism. Safety was assessed by occurrence of any bleeding event. Results 1902 patients (58%) were on VKAs and 1365 on DOACs (42%). In the DOAC group, 1149 patients received a dose consistent with drug labelling (84%), 133 (10%) received an inappropriately high and 83 (6%) an inappropriately low dose. Overdosed patients were older than those adequately treated and more likely female, had a lower BMI and a higher CHA2DS2-VASc score (4 vs. 3 points) (p<0.001 for all). Underdosed patients were more likely to have concomitant antiplatelet therapy (p<0.001). Both off-label groups were more likely to have a history of coronary artery disease, heart failure and chronic kidney disease (p<0.001). Kaplan-Meier cumulative incidence rates for the first occurrence of MACE or bleedings are provided in Figure 1. Overdosed patients had an almost two-fold higher risk of bleeding (9.0 vs. 5.0 events per 100 patient-years compared to correctly dosed DOACs and to VKAs) and a higher rate of MACE (5.1 vs. 2.3 events per 100 patient years compared to correctly dosed DOACs and 5.1 vs. 3.4 compared to VKAs). Underdosing did not seem to be associated with a relevant increase in ischemic or bleeding events as compared to correctly dosed DOACs and VKAs (see Figure 1). Figure 1. Kaplan-Meier incidence curves Conclusion Inadequate DOACs dosing was found in 1 in 6 patients and correlated with a higher burden of comorbidities at baseline. Underdosing correlated with concomitant antiplatelet therapy. Overdosing was associated with adverse clinical outcome for ischemic and bleeding events.


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