Thromboembolic and bleeding outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation and valvular heart disease: A descriptive nationwide cohort study. Issue 10 (7th July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Melgaard, Line; Jensen, Martin; Overvad, Thure F.; Larsen, Torben B.; Lip, Gregory Y. H.; Nielsen, Peter B.
• Is Part Of: International journal of clinical practice. Volume 74:Issue 10(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-07-07
• Subjects: Clinical medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1111/ijcp.13589
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-5031

Abstract

Abstract: Aims: The risks of thromboembolism and bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and valvular heart disease (VHD) are sparsely described. We described the risk of events in non‐anticoagulated and anticoagulated patients with AF and VHD according to the evaluated heart valves, rheumatic or artificial valve classification (EHRA classification), EHRA Type 1 and Type 2 VHD, and within subgroups of EHRA Type 1 and Type 2 VHD. Methods and Results: Cohort study of AF patients with coexisting VHD, identified in nationwide Danish registries from 2000 to 2018. Risk of thromboembolism and bleeding after 1 year of follow‐up were calculated in each group. We identified 28 770 incident AF patients with VHD. Not surprisingly, we observed the highest risks of thromboembolism in the non‐anticoagulated AF patients with EHRA Type 1 and Type 2 VHD (4.9% vs 2.6% and 3.2% vs 1.9%) and the highest risks of bleeding in the anticoagulated AF patients with EHRA Type 1 and Type 2 VHD (6.6% vs 4.3% and 6.1% vs 4.9%). However, within the subgroups of AF patients with EHRA Type 1 and Type 2 VHD, we observed a large proportion of non‐anticoagulated patients (32.9%‐49.2%), despite a CHA2 DS2 ‐VASc score of 2≤ in the majority of these patients (81.9%‐95.6%). Conclusions: When using data reflecting contemporary clinical practice, we observed markedly different risks of thromboembolism and bleeding in EHRA Type 1 and Type 2 VHD. Additionally, we observed a potential underuse of oral anticoagulation within the subgroups of AF patients with EHRA Type 1 and Type 2 VHD, underlining need for further attention on this patient group.