The German Competence Network on Atrial Fibrillation (AFNET)

Impact of atrial fibrillation/flutter on the in-hospital mortality of surgical patients - Results from the German nationwide cohort

BACKGROUND

To investigate the impact of atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF) on adverse in-hospital outcomes in hospitalized surgical patients.

METHODS

The nationwide German inpatient sample of the years 2005-2018 was used for this analysis. Surgical patients were stratified by AF and compared. Logistic regression models were used to investigate the impact of AF on in-hospital outcomes.

RESULTS

In total, 96,589,627 hospitalizations with surgery were included in the present analysis in Germany (2005-2018). Among these, 6,680,261 were additionally coded with AF (6.9%). In-hospital death rate was substantially higher in surgical patients with AF (6.3%) than without (1.1%). Proportion of surgical patients with AF increased from 4.8% in 2005 to 8.9% in 2018, whereas in-hospital mortality decreased from 7.6% to 5.6%. For further analysis of the year 2014, 7,043,514 hospitalized surgical patients (54.5% females, 31.6% aged ≥0 years) were included in the analysis. Of these, 546,019 patients (7.8%) were diagnosed with AF. Overall, 1.4% of the surgical patients and 5.8% of the surgical patients with AF died in-hospital. Surgical patients with coded AF were in median 20 years older (57.0 [37.0-72.0] vs. 77.0 [72.0-83.0] years, P < 0.001), had more often comorbidities such as heart failure (31.3% vs. 3.8%, P < 0.001). All-cause death (RR 6.14 (95%CI 6.05-6.22), P < 0.001) occurred more often in patients with AF than without. AF was an important predictor for in-hospital death (OR 1.58 [95%CI 1.56-1.61], P < 0.001) independent of age, sex and comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

The proportion of AF increased from 2005 to 2018 in surgical patients. AF was an independent risk factor for in-hospital death in these patients.

Impact of Atrial Fibrillation on Postoperative Adverse Outcomes of Surgical Patients With Knee Endoprosthetic Surgery

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF) is associated with increased mortality, thromboembolism, heart failure, and adverse perioperative outcomes. We aimed to investigate the impact of AF on adverse in-hospital outcomes of hospitalized patients who underwent knee endoprosthetic surgery (KES).

METHODS

The nationwide German inpatient sample of the years 2005-2015 was used for this analysis. Patients who underwent KES were identified based on the surgical and interventional procedural codes (surgery and procedure code [Operationen-und Prozedurenschlüssel] 5-822), and patients were further stratified by AF (International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems code I48). We compared patients with and without AF who underwent KES as well as survivors vs nonsurvivors among patients with AF. Logistic regression models were used to investigate the impact of AF as a predictor for adverse in-hospital outcomes.

RESULTS

Overall, 1,642,875 hospitalized surgical patients (65.4% females, 49.5% aged >70 years) were included in the analysis. Of these, 93,748 patients (5.7%) were diagnosed with AF. Overall, 0.1% of the patients who underwent KES and 0.6% of the patients who underwent KES with additional AF died during in-hospital stay. All-cause death (risk ratio 5.97 [95% confidence interval {CI} 5.41-6.58], P < .001) and adverse in-hospital events (risk ratio 2.62 [95% CI 2.50-2.74], P < .001) occurred both more often in patients with AF compared to those without. AF was an important predictor for in-hospital death (odds ratio 2.09 [95% CI 1.88-2.32], P < .001) and adverse in-hospital events (odds ratio 1.76 [95% CI 1.68-1.85], P < .001) in patients who underwent KES independent of age, sex, and comorbidities.

CONCLUSION

In patients who underwent KES, AF is associated with increased in-hospital mortality and adverse in-hospital outcomes. Pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, shock, myocardial infarction, intracerebral bleeding, and stroke were the key complications promoting in-hospital death.

[AFNET. A translational research network develops into an academic research organization]

"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts" (Aristotle).Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia and affects 1-2 % of the population in developed countries, especially the elderly. We expect that the prevalence of AF will double in the next few decades. The last decades have seen important improvements in the management of atrial fibrillation, but many questions remain regarding the optimal diagnosis and management of the condition. The German Atrial Fibrillation NETwork (AFNET) was one of three cardiovascular competence networks in medicine funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research between 2003-2014. AFNET has contributed to the understanding of atrial fibrillation, and AFNET-led studies have led to improved clinical practices and practice guidelines in Germany and in Europe. This work has been expanded and is continuing in the AFNET association (AFNET e. V.). The AFNET association, founded in 2010 and continuing to this day, has developed into a small but fully formed academic research organisation that conducts investigator-initiated clinical trials as the responsible sponsor in Germany, Europe, and beyond. The AFNET association currently cooperates with EHRA (The European Heart Rhythm Association), ESC (The European Society of Cardiology) and DZHK (The German Centre for Cardiovascular Research) and receives funding from the European Union to generate evidence that can in the future lead to better prevention and management of AF.

Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants and atrial fibrillation guidelines in practice: barriers to and strategies for optimal implementation

Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an independent risk factor for stroke, increasing the risk five-fold. Strokes in patients with AF are more likely than other embolic strokes to be fatal or cause severe disability and are associated with higher healthcare costs, but they are also preventable. Current guidelines recommend that all patients with AF who are at risk of stroke should receive anticoagulation. However, despite this guidance, registry data indicate that anticoagulation is still widely underused. With a focus on the 2012 update of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for the management of AF, the Action for Stroke Prevention alliance writing group have identified key reasons for the suboptimal implementation of the guidelines at a global, regional, and local level, with an emphasis on access restrictions to guideline-recommended therapies. Following identification of these barriers, the group has developed an expert consensus on strategies to augment the implementation of current guidelines, including practical, educational, and access-related measures. The potential impact of healthcare quality measures for stroke prevention on guideline implementation is also explored. By providing practical guidance on how to improve implementation of the ESC guidelines, or region-specific modifications of these guidelines, the aim is to reduce the potentially devastating impact that stroke can have on patients, their families and their carers.

Predictors of discordance between physicians' and patients' appraisals of health-related quality of life in atrial fibrillation patients: findings from the Angiotensin II Antagonist in Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Trial

BACKGROUND

Assessing health status is fundamental when weighing treatment options for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Most health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) data stem from self-ratings, whereas treatment decisions are based upon physicians' estimations.

METHODS

The degree of congruence between patients' and physicians' assessments of the patients' subjective health status was used as an indicator of good communication and shared understanding. A total of 334 patients with paroxysmal AF without significant concomitant heart diseases and their physicians were asked in a prospective blinded study to rate the patients' HRQoL. The Short Form-12 was used for self-ratings; the Short Form-8, for physician ratings. Using baseline data, intraclass correlations and Bland-Altman graphs were used to assess concordance; cross-sectional multivariate regression analyses assessed patient characteristics associated with discordance.

RESULTS

On average, physicians rated their patients' HRQoL higher than patients did (∆mental component score [MCS] = -3.23, P < .0001, and ∆physical component score [PCS] = -2.21, P = .0001). Intraclass correlations and Bland-Altman graphs showed unsatisfactory concordance. Physical inactivity (∆ = 4.84) had the greatest bivariate effect on PCS discordance, and major depressive disorder (∆ = 7.01), on MCS discordance. In the regression analyses, depression was significantly associated with discord in the MCS (β = -0.94, P < .001) and the PCS (β = -0.37, P < .002). Sleeping disorder was associated with discord in the MCS (β = -4.13, P < .002), and physical inactivity, with discord in the PCS (β = -1.47, P = .006).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with AF, even in the absence of significant concomitant cardiac diseases, depression, followed by sleeping disorder and physical inactivity, was significantly associated with discordance. These findings should be considered by physicians when choosing treatment strategies.

[Patients suffering from atrial fibrillation in Germany. Characteristics, resource consumption and costs]

INTRODUCTION

Atrial fibrillation (Afib) is considered to be the most frequent form of cardiac dysrhythmia and is well known as a key risk factor for arterial thromboembolism. The incidence of Afib will increase in the future due to demographic changes as well as improved treatment options for acute and chronic heart diseases.

OBJECTIVE

The primary objectives of this analysis were to describe patient characteristics, to assess the resource consumption associated with Afib and to measure costs of direct treatment as well as consequential costs. A secondary objective was to identify factors that influence the costs or the type of Afib.

METHODS

The analysis is based on the representative ATRIUM register (Ambulantes Register zur Morbidität des Vorhofflimmerns, Ambulatory register on morbidity of atrial fibrillation), a prospective, multicenter cohort study in which general practitioners and family doctors documented the characteristics and resource utilization of consecutively enrolled patients. The documented resource consumption use was subsequently valued with unit costs. The presented results are focused on the baseline documentation and refer to the period 12 months before enrollment.

RESULTS

A total of 3,667 patients (mean age 72.1±9.2 years, 58% men) fulfilled all inclusion criteria and were included by a total of 730 doctors. The patients had an average of 2.4±1.0 risk factors and the most common was hypertension (84% of patients). The most commonly observed comorbidities were heart failure (43%) and coronary heart disease (CHD, 35%). Medicines for oral anticoagulation (86%) and beta blockers (75%) were the most frequently prescribed drugs. A total of 1/3 of all patients received a specific kind of Afib therapy (e. g. drug conversion, cardioversion) during the past 12 months. The disease-specific mean costs of the patients were 3,274±5,134 Euro, while the acute (inpatient) treatment represented the largest proportion of these total costs (1,639±3,623 Euro). Patients with high treatment costs were significantly younger and suffered from more concomitant diseases.

CONCLUSION

Atrial fibrillation is associated with significant patient-related attributable costs that are caused particularly by expenditures of inpatient stay. New, innovative treatment strategies seem to offer particular potential savings if they are able to reduce the number of hospitalizations due to Afib itself or subsequent cardiac events.

Differences and trends in stroke prevention anticoagulation in primary care vs cardiology specialty management of new atrial fibrillation: The Retrospective Evaluation and Assessment of Therapies in AF (TREAT-AF) study

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation and flutter (AF, collectively) cause stroke. We evaluated whether treating specialty influences warfarin prescription in patients with newly diagnosed AF.

METHODS

In the TREAT-AF study, we used Veterans Health Administration health record and claims data to identify patients with newly diagnosed AF between October 2004 and November 2008 and at least 1 internal medicine/primary care or cardiology outpatient encounter within 90 days after diagnosis. The primary outcome was prescription of warfarin.

RESULTS

In 141,642 patients meeting the inclusion criteria, the mean age was 72.3 ± 10.2 years, 1.48% were women, and 25.8% had cardiology outpatient care. Cardiology-treated patients had more comorbidities and higher mean CHADS2 scores (1.8 vs 1.6, P < .0001). Warfarin use was higher in cardiology-treated vs primary care only-treated patients (68.6% vs 48.9%, P < .0001). After covariate and site-level adjustment, cardiology care was significantly associated with warfarin use (odds ratio [OR] 2.05, 95% CI 1.99-2.11). These findings were consistent across a series of adjusted models (OR 2.05-2.20), propensity matching (OR 1.98), and subgroup analyses (OR 1.58-2.11). Warfarin use in primary-care-only patients declined from 2004 to 2008 (51.6%-44.0%, P < .0001), whereas the adjusted odds of warfarin receipt with cardiology care (vs primary care) increased from 2004 to 2008 (1.88-2.24, P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

In patients with newly diagnosed AF, we found large differences in anticoagulation use by treating specialty. A divergent 5-year trend of risk-adjusted warfarin use was observed. Treating specialty influences stroke prevention care and may impact clinical outcomes.

Challenges of stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation in clinical practice

Strokes and transient ischaemic attacks in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) can be largely prevented. Risk stratification and appropriate prophylactic regimens help to alleviate the burden of AF-related thromboembolism. Guidelines recommend routine anticoagulation with oral vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for patients at moderate-to-high risk of stroke, and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) for those at low risk of stroke. ASA is less effective at reducing the risk of stroke than VKAs; however, ASA does not require monitoring or dose adjustment. Trials of anticoagulants show consistent benefits of oral VKAs for primary and secondary stroke prevention in patients with AF. Nevertheless, VKAs do require frequent coagulation monitoring and dose adjustment because of their variable dose-response profile, narrow therapeutic window, increased risk for bleeding complications and numerous food and drug interactions. This review aims to provide an overview of the clinical challenges of anticoagulant therapy for the prevention of stroke in patients with AF.