Major bleeding and intracranial hemorrhage risk prediction in patients with atrial fibrillation: Attention to modifiable bleeding risk factors or use of a bleeding risk stratification score? A nationwide cohort study

The 2024 European Society of Cardiology Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Atrial Fibrillation: A Viewpoint from a Practicing Clinician's Perspective

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a complex disease requiring a multidomain and (usually) long-term management, thus posing a significant burden to patients with AF, practitioners, and health care system. Unlike cardiovascular conditions with a narrow referral pathway (e.g., acute coronary syndrome), AF may be first detected by a wide range of specialties (often noncardiology) or a general practitioner. Since timely initiated optimal management is essential for the prevention of AF-related complications, a concise and simple guidance is essential for practitioners managing AF patients, regardless of their specialty. Guideline-adherent management of patients with AF has been shown to translate to improved patient outcomes compared with guideline-nonadherent treatment. To facilitate guideline implementation in routine clinical practice, a good guideline document on AF should introduce only evidence-based new recommendations, while avoiding arbitrary changes, which may be confusing to practitioners. Herein, we discuss the main changes in the 2024 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) AF Guidelines relative to the previous 2020 ESC document. Whether the updates and new recommendations issued by the new guidelines will translate in high adherence in clinical practice (and hence improved prognosis of patients with AF) will need to be addressed in upcoming years.

Patients treated with vitamin K oral anticoagulants in family practice: a new approach to bleeding risk assessment. An ancillary study by the CACAO prospective general practice cohort

BACKGROUND

The ability of bleeding risk scores to predict major bleeding (MB) or clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding (CRNMB) remains a topic of contention, particularly in nonselected patients in family practice. In addition, the capacity to predict bleeding risk using simple variables has yet to be established.

OBJECTIVES

The main objective was to confirm that severe anemia was the most predictive factor for the estimation of bleeding risk in patients treated with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). Secondary objectives were to test the capacity of different bleeding scores to detect high-risk patients. Subsequently, the impact of functional decline on bleeding incidence was explored.

METHODS

The CACAO study was a multicenter prospective cohort study of patients who, due to nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and/or venous thromboembolism (VTE), had been prescribed an oral anticoagulant by their general practitioner (GP) as a prophylactic measure. Patient characteristics were collected at the time of inclusion by GPs, who then monitored them in accordance with standard practice for one year. MB and CRNMB were the main outcomes for one year. By applying this approach, a total of 13 scores were analyzed.

RESULTS

Aaemia was found to be strongly associated with MB (HR: 2.77, 95% CI: 1.2-6.36), with a particularly pronounced association observed in cases of severe anemia (HR: 12.9, 95% CI: 2.76-60.35). Twelve out of 27 MB cases were not identified by at least half of the scores. By contrast, functional decline was identified as a novel factor associated with MB (HR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.13-5.31).

CONCLUSIONS

Preexisting anemia is a major prognostic factor associated with the occurrence of bleeding. It seems relevant to suggest that functional decline should be considered by GPs when assessing bleeding risk.

Exploring the Perioperative Use of DOACs, off the Beaten Track

A notable increase in direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) use has been observed in the last decade. This trend has surpassed the prescription of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) due to the absence of the need for regular laboratory monitoring and the more favorable characteristics in terms of efficacy and safety. However, it is very common that patients on DOACs need an interventional or surgical procedure, requiring a careful evaluation and a challenging approach. Therefore, perioperative anticoagulation management of patients on DOACs represents a growing concern for clinicians. Indeed, while several surgical interventions require temporary discontinuation of DOACs, other procedures that involve a lower risk of bleeding can be conducted, maintaining a minimal or uninterrupted DOAC strategy. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation of patient characteristics, including age, susceptibility to stroke, previous bleeding complications, concurrent medications, renal and hepatic function, and other factors, in addition to surgical considerations, is mandatory to establish the optimal discontinuation and resumption timing of DOACs. A multidisciplinary approach is required for managing perioperative anticoagulation in order to establish how to face these circumstances. This narrative review aims to provide physicians with a practical guide for DOAC perioperative management, addressing the most controversial issues.

The optimal antithrombotic strategy for post-stroke patients with atrial fibrillation and extracranial artery stenosis-a nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND

In post-stroke atrial fibrillation (AF) patients who have indications for both oral anticoagulant (OAC) and antiplatelet agent (AP), e.g., those with carotid artery stenosis, there is debate over the best antithrombotic strategy. We aimed to compare the risks of ischemic stroke, composite of ischemic stroke/major bleeding and composite of ischemic stroke/intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) between different antithrombotic strategies.

METHODS

This study included post-stroke AF patients with and without extracranial artery stenosis (ECAS) (n = 6390 and 28,093, respectively) identified from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Risks of clinical outcomes and net clinical benefit (NCB) with different antithrombotic strategies were compared to AP alone.

RESULTS

The risk of recurrent ischemic stroke was higher for patients with ECAS than those without (12.72%/yr versus 10.60/yr; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.104, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.052-1.158, p < 0.001). For patients with ECAS, when compared to AP only, non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) monotherapy was associated with lower risks for ischaemic stroke (aHR 0.551, 95% CI 0.454-0.669), the composite of ischaemic stroke/major bleeding (aHR 0.626, 95% CI 0.529-0.741) and the composite of ischaemic stroke/ICH (aHR 0.577, 95% CI 0.478-0.697), with non-significant difference for major bleeding and ICH. When compared to AP only, warfarin monotherapy was associated with higher risks of major bleeding (aHR 1.521, 95% CI 1.231-1.880), ICH (aHR 2.045, 95% CI 1.329-3.148), and the composite of ischaemic stroke and major bleeding. With combination of AP plus warfarin, there was an increase in ischaemic stroke, major bleeding, and the composite outcomes, when compared to AP only. NOAC monotherapy was the only approach associated with a positive NCB, while all other options (warfarin, combination of AP-OAC) were associated with negative NCB.

CONCLUSIONS

For post-stroke AF patients with ECAS, NOAC monotherapy was associated with lower risks of adverse outcomes and a positive NCB. Combination of AP with NOAC or warfarin did not offer any benefit, but more bleeding especially with AP-warfarin combination therapy.

Risk of Incident Atrial Fibrillation and Subsequent Use of Oral Anticoagulants in Patients with Dementia

BACKGROUND

 Dementia and atrial fibrillation (AF) have many shared risk factors. Besides, patients with dementia are under-represented in randomized trials, and even if AF is present, oral anticoagulants (OACs) are not prescribed frequently. This study aimed to report the incidence of newly diagnosed AF in dementia patients, and the impacts of use of vitamin K antagonist (VKA; e.g., warfarin) and non-VKA OAC (NOACs) on stroke and bleeding outcomes.

METHODS

 Our study utilized the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. A total of 554,074 patients with dementia were compared with 554,074 age- and sex-matched patients without dementia regarding the risk of incident AF. Among patients with dementia who experienced incident AF, the risks of clinical events of patients treated with warfarin or NOACs were compared with those without OACs (reference group).

RESULTS

 The risk of incident AF was greater for patients with dementia compared with those without (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.054; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.040-1.068 for all types of dementia, aHR: 1.035; 95% CI: 1.020-1.051 for presenile/senile dementia, and aHR: 1.125; 95% CI: 1.091-1.159 for vascular dementia). Among patients with dementia and experienced incident AF, warfarin use was associated with a higher risk of ischemic stroke (aHR: 1.290; 95% CI: 1.156-1.440), intracranial hemorrhage (ICH; aHR: 1.678; 95% CI: 1.346-2.090), and major bleeding (aHR: 1.192; 95% CI: 1.073-1.323) compared with non-OACs. NOAC use was associated with a lower risk of ischemic stroke (aHR: 0.421; 95% CI: 0.352-0.503) and composite risk of ischemic stroke or major bleeding (aHR: 0.544; 95% CI: 0.487-0.608) compared with non-OACs. These results were consistent among the patients after the propensity matching.

CONCLUSION

 In this large nationwide cohort, the risk of newly diagnosed AF was higher in patients with dementia (all dementia, presenile/senile dementia, and vascular dementia) compared with those without dementia. For patients with dementia who experienced incident AF, NOAC use was associated with a better clinical outcome compared with non-OAC. Patients with dementia require a holistic approach to their care and management, including the use of NOACs to reduce the risks of clinical events.

Atrial fibrillation: stroke prevention

Stroke prevention is central to the management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) which has moved towards a more holistic or integrative care approach. The published evidence suggests that management of AF patients following such a holistic approach based on the Atrial fibrillation Better Care (ABC) pathway is associated with a lower risk of stroke and adverse events. Risk assessment, re-assessment and use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are important for stroke prevention in AF. The stroke and bleeding risks of AF patients are not static and should be re-assessed regularly. Bleeding risk assessment is to address and mitigate modifiable bleeding risk factors, and to identify high bleeding risk patients for early review and follow-up. Well-controlled comorbidities and healthy lifestyles also play an important role to achieve a better clinical outcome. Digital health solutions are increasingly relevant in the diagnosis and management of patients with AF, with the potential to improve stroke prevention. In this review, we provide an update on stroke prevention in AF, including importance of holistic management, risk assessment/re-assessment, and stroke prevention for special AF populations. Evidence-based and structured management of AF patients would reduce the risk of stroke and other adverse events.

Stroke-Specific Predictors of Major Bleeding in Anticoagulated Patients With Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation: A Nationwide Multicenter Registry-Based Study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The congestive heart failure, hypertension, age, diabetes, previous stroke/transient ischemic attack (CHA2DS2-VASc) and hypertension, abnormal renal/liver function, stroke, bleeding history or predisposition, labile international normalized ratio, elderly, drugs/alcohol (HAS-BLED) scores have been validated in estimating the risks of ischemic stroke and major bleeding, respectively, in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). This study investigated stroke-specific predictors of major bleeding in patients with stroke and AF who were taking oral anticoagulants (OACs).

METHODS

Subjects were selected from patients enrolled in the Korean ATrial fibrillaTion EvaluatioN regisTry in Ischemic strOke patieNts (K-ATTENTION) nationwide multicenter registry between 2013 and 2015. Patients were excluded if they were not taking OACs, had no brain imaging data, or had intracranial bleeding directly related to the index stroke. Major bleeding was defined according to International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis criteria. Cox regression analyses were performed to assess the associations between clinical variables and major bleeding and Kaplan-Meier estimates were performed to analyze event-free survival.

RESULTS

Of a total of 3,213 patients, 1,414 subjects (mean age of 72.6 years, 52.5% males) were enrolled in this study. Major bleeding was reported in 34 patients during the median follow-up period of 1.73 years. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores (hazard ratio [HR] 1.07, p=0.006), hypertension (HR 3.18, p=0.030), persistent AF type (HR 2.51, p=0.016), and initial hemoglobin level (HR 0.74, p=0.001) were independently associated with major bleeding risk. Except for hypertension, these associations remained significant after adjusting for the HAS-BLED score. Intracranial atherosclerosis presented a trend of association without statistical significance (HR 2.21, p=0.050).

CONCLUSIONS

This study found that major bleeding risk was independently associated with stroke-specific factors in anticoagulated patients with stroke and AF. This has the clinical implication that baseline characteristics of patients with stroke and AF should be considered in secondary prevention, which would bring the net clinical benefit of balancing recurrent stroke prevention with minimal bleeding complications.

Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in atrial fibrillation patients without previous oral anticoagulants or stable under warfarin: a nationwide cohort study

AIMS

Investigations on non-VKA oral anticoagulants (NOACs) for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients without taking any oral anticoagulants (OACs) or staying well on warfarin were limited. We aimed to investigate the associations between stroke prevention strategies and clinical outcomes among AF patients who were previously well without taking any OACs or stayed well on warfarin for years.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The retrospective analysis included a total of 54 803 AF patients who did not experience an ischaemic stroke or intra-cranial haemorrhage (ICH) for years after AF was diagnosed. Among these patients, 32 917 patients who did not receive OACs were defined as the 'original non-OAC cohort' (group 1), and 8007 patients who continuously received warfarin were defined as the 'original warfarin cohort' (group 2). In group 1, compared to non-OAC, warfarin showed no significant difference in ischaemic stroke (aHR 0.979, 95%CI 0.863-1.110, P = 0.137) while those initiated NOACs were associated with lower risk (aHR 0.867, 95%CI 0.786-0.956, P = 0.043). When compared to warfarin, the composite of 'ischaemic stroke or ICH' and 'ischaemic stroke or major bleeding' was significantly lower in the NOAC initiator with an aHR of 0.927 (95%CI 0.865-0.994; P = 0.042) and 0.912 (95%CI 0.837-0.994; P < 0.001), respectively. In group 2, when compared to warfarin, those shifted to NOACs were associated with a lower risk of ischaemic stroke (aHR 0.886, 95%CI 0.790-0.993, P = 0.002) and major bleeding (aHR 0.849, 95%CI 0.756-0.953, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The NOACs should be considered for AF patients who were previously well without taking OACs and those who were free of ischaemic stroke and ICH under warfarin for years.

EHRA expert consensus document on the management of arrhythmias in frailty syndrome, endorsed by the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS), Latin America Heart Rhythm Society (LAHRS), and Cardiac Arrhythmia Society of Southern Africa (CASSA)

There is an increasing proportion of the general population surviving to old age with significant chronic disease, multi-morbidity, and disability. The prevalence of pre-frail state and frailty syndrome increases exponentially with advancing age and is associated with greater morbidity, disability, hospitalization, institutionalization, mortality, and health care resource use. Frailty represents a global problem, making early identification, evaluation, and treatment to prevent the cascade of events leading from functional decline to disability and death, one of the challenges of geriatric and general medicine. Cardiac arrhythmias are common in advancing age, chronic illness, and frailty and include a broad spectrum of rhythm and conduction abnormalities. However, no systematic studies or recommendations on the management of arrhythmias are available specifically for the elderly and frail population, and the uptake of many effective antiarrhythmic therapies in these patients remains the slowest. This European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) consensus document focuses on the biology of frailty, common comorbidities, and methods of assessing frailty, in respect to a specific issue of arrhythmias and conduction disease, provide evidence base advice on the management of arrhythmias in patients with frailty syndrome, and identifies knowledge gaps and directions for future research.

Oral Anticoagulation in Patients With Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease and Atrial Fibrillation: Beyond Anticoagulation

The optimal approach to prevent stroke and systemic embolism in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and atrial fibrillation remains unresolved. We conducted a narrative review to explore areas of uncertainty and opportunities for future research. First, the relationship between atrial fibrillation and stroke is more complex in patients with advanced CKD than in the general population. The currently employed risk stratification tools do not adequately discriminate between patients deriving a net benefit and those suffering a net harm from oral anticoagulation. Anticoagulation initiation should probably be more restrictive than is currently advocated by official guidelines. Recent evidence reveals that the superior benefit-risk profile of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) vs vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) observed in the general population and in moderate CKD can be extended to advanced CKD. The NOACs yield better protection against stroke, cause less major bleeding, are associated with less acute kidney injury and a slower decline of CKD, and are associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular events than VKAs. The VKAs may be harmful in CKD patients, in particular in patients with a high bleeding risk and labile international normalized ratio. The better safety and efficacy of NOACs as opposed to VKAs may be particularly evident in advanced CKD as a result of better on-target anticoagulation with NOACs, harmful off-target vascular effects of VKAs, and beneficial off-target vascular effects of NOACs. The intrinsic vasculoprotective effects of NOACs are supported by animal experimental evidence as well as by findings of large clinical trials and may result in use of NOACs beyond their anticoagulant properties.

HAS-BLED vs. ORBIT scores in anticoagulated patients with atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The 2021 UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines tend to recommend the ORBIT score for predicting bleeding risk in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) with anticoagulants. Herein, we comprehensively re-assessed the predicted abilities of the HAS-BLED vs. ORBIT score since several newly published data showed different findings.

Methods

We comprehensively searched the PubMed electronic database until December 2021 to identify relevant studies reporting the ORBIT vs. HAS-BLED scores in anticoagulated patients with AF. Their predicted abilities were assessed using the C-index, reclassification, and calibration analysis.

Results

Finally, 17 studies were included in this review. In the pooled analysis, the ORBIT score had a C-index of 0.63 (0.60-0.66), 0.59 (0.53-0.66), and 0.57 (0.48-0.67) for major bleeding, any clinically relevant bleeding, and intracranial bleeding, respectively, while the HAS-BLED score had a C-index of 0.61 (0.59-0.63), 0.59 (0.56-0.63), and 0.57 (0.51-0.64) for major bleeding, any clinically relevant bleeding, and intracranial bleeding, respectively. There were no statistical differences in the accuracy of predicting these bleeding events between the two scoring systems. For the outcome of major bleeding, the subgroup analyses based on vitamin K antagonists vs. direct oral anticoagulants suggested no differences in the discrimination ability between the HAS-BLED and ORBIT scores. Reclassification and calibration analyses of HAS-BLED vs. ORBIT should be further assessed due to the limited and conflicting data.

Conclusion

Our current findings suggested that the HAS-BLED and ORBIT scores at least had similar predictive abilities for major bleeding risk in anticoagulated (vitamin K antagonists or direct oral anticoagulants) patients with AF, supporting the use of the HAS-BLED score in clinical practice.

Should oral anticoagulants still be prescribed to patients with atrial fibrillation with a single stroke risk factor but at high bleeding risk? A nationwide cohort study

AIMS

To investigate the co-distributions of stroke and bleeding risks in Asian patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and the clinical benefits of oral anticoagulants (OACs) among AF patients with a single stroke risk factor but at high bleeding risk.

METHODS AND RESULTS

From 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2016, a total of 404 949 AF patients were retrospectively identified from Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Stroke risk was assessed using the CHA2DS2-VASc score and was categorized into low risk (score = 0 for males and 1 for females), intermediate risk (i.e. a single non-sex stroke risk factor; score = 1 for males and 2 for females), and high risk (score ≥2 for males and ≥3 for females). A high risk of bleeding was defined as a HAS-BLED score ≥3. Around 57.5% of AF patients were at high risk for both stroke and bleeding, and most patients (97.6%) with a low stroke risk were also at low risk for bleeding. Around 18.3% of patients with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 1 (males) or 2 (females) were at high bleeding risk, and the use of OACs in such patients was associated with a lower risk of composite adverse events of ischaemic stroke, intracranial haemorrhage, or mortality (4.19/100 person-years vs. 5.22/100 person-years, adjusted hazard ratio = 0.781, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

For AF patients with an intermediate risk of stroke (i.e. a single non-sex stroke risk factor) but at high bleeding risk, the use of OACs was still significantly associated with a better overall clinical outcome.

Assessment and Mitigation of Bleeding Risk in Atrial Fibrillation and Venous Thromboembolism: Executive Summary of a European and Asia-Pacific Expert Consensus Paper

While there is a clear clinical benefit of oral anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) in reducing the risks of thromboembolism, major bleeding events (especially intracranial bleeds) may still occur and be devastating. The decision for initiating and continuing anticoagulation is often based on a careful assessment of both thromboembolism and bleeding risk. The more common and validated bleeding risk factors have been used to formulate bleeding risk stratification scores, but thromboembolism and bleeding risk factors often overlap. Also, many factors that increase bleeding risk are transient and modifiable, such as variable international normalized ratio values, surgical procedures, vascular procedures, or drug-drug and food-drug interactions. Bleeding risk is also not a static "one-off" assessment based on baseline factors but is dynamic, being influenced by aging, incident comorbidities, and drug therapies. In this executive summary of a European and Asia-Pacific Expert Consensus Paper, we comprehensively review the published evidence and propose a consensus on bleeding risk assessments in patients with AF and VTE, with a view to summarizing "best practice" when approaching antithrombotic therapy in these patients. We address the epidemiology and size of the problem of bleeding risk in AF and VTE, and review established bleeding risk factors and summarize definitions of bleeding. Patient values and preferences, balancing the risk of bleeding against thromboembolism, are reviewed, and the prognostic implications of bleeding are discussed. We propose consensus statements that may help to define evidence gaps and assist in everyday clinical practice.

Comparing atrial fibrillation guidelines: Focus on stroke prevention, bleeding risk assessment and oral anticoagulant recommendations

Clinical practice in atrial fibrillation (AF) patient management is constantly evolving. In the past 3 years, various new AF guidelines or focused updates have been published, given this rapidly evolving field. In 2019, the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association published a focused update of the 2014 guidelines. In 2020, both the European Society of Cardiology and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society released their new guidelines. Finally, the most recent guidelines were those published in 2021 by the Asian Pacific Heart Rhythm Society, which updates their 2017 version and the 2021 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. In the present narrative review, we compare these guidelines, emphasizing similarities and differences in the following mainstay elements of patient care: thromboembolic risk assessment, oral anticoagulants (OACs) prescription, bleeding risk evaluation, and integrated patient management. A formal evaluation of baseline thromboembolic and bleeding risks and their reassessment during follow-up is evenly recommended, although some differences in using risk stratification scores. OACs prescription is highly encouraged where appropriate, and prescription algorithms are broadly similar. The importance of an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to patient care is emerging, aiming to address several different aspects of a multifaceted disease.

Assessment and mitigation of bleeding risk in atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism: A Position Paper from the ESC Working Group on Thrombosis, in collaboration with the European Heart Rhythm Association, the Association for Acute CardioVascular Care and the Asia-Pacific Heart Rhythm Society

Whilst there is a clear clinical benefit of oral anticoagulation (OAC) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) in reducing the risks of thromboembolism, major bleeding events (especially intracranial bleeds) may still occur and be devastating. The decision to initiate and continue anticoagulation is often based on a careful assessment of both the thromboembolism and bleeding risk. The more common and validated bleeding risk factors have been used to formulate bleeding risk stratification scores, but thromboembolism and bleeding risk factors often overlap. Also, many factors that increase bleeding risk are transient and modifiable, such as variable international normalized ratio values, surgical procedures, vascular procedures, or drug-drug and food-drug interactions. Bleeding risk is also not a static 'one off' assessment based on baseline factors but is dynamic, being influenced by ageing, incident comorbidities, and drug therapies. In this Consensus Document, we comprehensively review the published evidence and propose a consensus on bleeding risk assessments in patients with AF and VTE, with the view to summarizing 'best practice' when approaching antithrombotic therapy in these patients. We address the epidemiology and size of the problem of bleeding risk in AF and VTE, review established bleeding risk factors, and summarize definitions of bleeding. Patient values and preferences, balancing the risk of bleeding against thromboembolism are reviewed, and the prognostic implications of bleeding are discussed. We propose consensus statements that may help to define evidence gaps and assist in everyday clinical practice.

Anticoagulation after stroke: persistent uncertainties

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) are the mainstay of anticoagulant therapy for stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Persistent uncertainties remain in different areas, and this review discusses current dilemmas based on selected studies.

RECENT FINDINGS

Optimal timing of DOAC initiation after a recent ischaemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation is currently unknown and subject of ongoing randomized controlled trials. Ischaemic stroke despite anticoagulant therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation is frequent, constitutes heterogeneous causes (competing stroke cause, medication error and cardioembolism despite anticoagulation) and optimal treatment is currently unknown. Thorough etiological work-up is justified. Recent randomized controlled trials found no beneficial effect of DOAC therapy in unselected patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS). Currently ongoing trials targeting subgroup of ESUS patients with additional atrial cardiopathy will provide novel data. Cerebral mircobleeds combined in a novel risk score (MICON score) provide good predictive value to stratify the risk of intracranial haemorrhage in patients taking anticoagulants. Use of DOAC after intracerebral haemorrhage in patients with atrial fibrillation is subject of ongoing trials.

SUMMARY

There are still significant uncertainties in anticoagulant management in patients with stroke. Ongoing trials will soon provide novel data to improve management of these patients.

Effectiveness and safety of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with non-valvular atrial fibrillation

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) have an increased risk of suffering thromboembolic events. Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) are recommended as therapy but there is still limited data regarding the efficacy of prescribing non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs). This retrospective study investigates the effectiveness and safety of NOAC administration in patients with HCM and AF. A total of 124 patients with HCM and AF on an oral anticoagulant therapy were recruited between January 2015 and December 2019; these patients were followed up until March 31, 2020. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the clinical outcomes in patients treated with NOACs versus warfarin. The Cox model was used to estimate the risk of clinically relevant bleeding. Our study included 124 patients, of which 48 (38.7%) received warfarin and 76 (61.3%) received NOACs. Survival analysis showed the patients undergoing NOACs had a lower risk of clinically relevant bleeding (log-rank P = 0.039) over a period of 53.6 months. The median time in therapeutic range (TTR) score was 50% (interquartile range: 40.43 to 57.08%). A total of nine patients (18.75%) had a good TTR with a median score of 66.35% (interquartile range: 64.58 to 77.75%). The incidence of death by all causes, cardiovascular death and thromboembolism were similar between NOAC and warfarin-treated patients (log-rank P = 0.239, log-rank P = 0.386, and log-rank P = 0.257, respectively). Patients treated with NOACs showed a significant reduction in the risk of clinical (P = 0.011) and gastrointestinal bleeding (P = 0.032). Cox multiple regression analysis showed age (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.03-1.24; P = 0.013) and warfarin therapy (HR 7.37, 95% CI 1.63-33.36; P = 0.010) were independent predictors of clinically relevant bleeding. Compared to warfarin, NOACs were associated with a lower incidence of clinically relevant bleeding in HCM patients with AF, as demonstrated by the similar incidence of death by all causes, cardiovascular death and thromboembolic events.

Diagnostic Accuracy of the HAS-BLED Bleeding Score in VKA- or DOAC-Treated Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Several bleeding risk assessment models have been developed in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with oral anticoagulants, but the most appropriate tool for predicting bleeding remains uncertain. Therefore, we aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the Hypertension, Abnormal liver/renal function, Stroke, Bleeding history or predisposition, Labile international normalized ratio, Elderly, Drugs/alcohol concomitantly (HAS-BLED) score compared with other risk scores in anticoagulated patients with AF.

Methods: We comprehensively searched the PubMed and Embase databases until July 2021 to identify relevant pieces of literature. The predictive abilities of risk scores were fully assessed by the C-statistic, net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) values, calibration data, and decision curve analyses.

Results: A total of 39 studies met the inclusion criteria. The C-statistic of the HAS-BLED score for predicting major bleeding was 0.63 (0.61–0.65) in anticoagulated patients regardless of vitamin k antagonists [0.63 (0.61–0.65)] and direct oral anticoagulants [0.63 (0.59–0.67)]. The HAS-BLED had the similar C-statistic to the Hepatic or renal disease, Ethanol abuse, Malignancy, Older, Reduced platelet count or function, Re-bleeding risk, Hypertension (uncontrolled), Anemia, Genetic factors, Excessive fall risk, Stroke (HEMORR₂HAGES), the Anticoagulation and Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation (ATRIA), the Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (ORBIT), the Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF), or the Age, Biomarkers, Clinical History (ABC) scores, but significantly higher C-statistic than the Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age ≥75 years, Diabetes mellitus, Stroke/transient ischemic attack history (CHADS₂) or the Congestive heart failure/left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 40%, Hypertension, Age ≥75 years, Diabetes mellitus, Stroke/transient ischemic attack/thromboembolism history, Vascular disease, Age 65–74 years, Sex (female) (CHA₂DS₂-VASc) scores. NRI and IDI values suggested that the HAS-BLED score performed better than the CHADS₂ or the CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores and had similar or superior predictive ability compared with the HEMORR₂HAGES, the ATRIA, the ORBIT, or the GARFIELD-AF scores. Calibration and decision curve analyses of the HAS-BLED score compared with other scores required further assessment due to the limited evidence.

Conclusion: The HAS-BLED score has moderate predictive abilities for bleeding risks in patients with AF regardless of type of oral anticoagulants. Current evidence support that the HAS-BLED score is at least non-inferior to the HEMORR₂HAGES, the ATRIA, the ORBIT, the GARFIELD-AF, the CHADS₂, the CHA₂DS₂-VASc, or the ABC scores.

Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the commonest sustained cardiac rhythm disorder associated with an increased risk of stroke and systemic embolic events. The prevention of stroke using oral anticoagulants has been a pivotal component of AF management. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent advances in the treatment and prevention of stroke in AF over the last 5 years. We performed a comprehensive structured literature search using MEDLINE for publications from 11^th March 2015 through to 31^st December 2020. We focused mainly on primarily published research articles and systematic reviews including updates in different international guidelines. We found that improved awareness and detection of AF and use of clinical risk stratification are central to the identification of patients at risk of stroke who would benefit from oral anticoagulation. The recommendation of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants over warfarin in both efficacy and safety perspective is represented in all international guidelines. Beyond stroke prevention, there is a move to more holistic or integrated care management of AF, which has been shown to improve outcomes. We conclude that stroke prevention remains a dominant part of the management of patients with AF. Not all stroke risk factors carry equal weight, and many require additional scrutiny (e.g. severity of CAD, type of diabetes, duration of hypertension). The utilization of clinical risk scores to help decision-making should take into account that these scores are mere simplification tools to aid decision-making and the additional clinical benefit with more complex risk scores and addition of biomarkers is limited. Also, stroke and bleeding risks are dynamic and require regular review. Instead of arbitrarily categorizing patients into (artificial) low, moderate, and high stroke risk strata, anticoagulation should be offered to all patients with AF unless they are low risk with no risk factors for stroke. Stroke prevention is also part of the proactive, integrated care approach to holistic management of patients with AF, which can be simplified in the ABC (Atrial fibrillation Better Care) pathway: 'A' Avoid stroke/Anticoagulation; 'B' Better symptom management emphasising patient-centred symptom directed decisions on rate or rhythm control strategies; and 'C' refers to Cardiovascular risk and comorbidity optimization, including lifestyle changes and attention to patient values and preferences, as well as the psychological morbidity associated with AF.

Clinical Outcomes in Atrial Fibrillation Patients With a History of Cancer Treated With Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants: A Nationwide Cohort Study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Data on clinical outcomes for nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOACs) and warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation and cancer are limited, and patients with active cancer were excluded from randomized trials. We investigated the effectiveness and safety for NOACs versus warfarin among patients with atrial fibrillation with cancer.

METHODS

In this nationwide retrospective cohort study from Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified a total of 6274 and 1681 consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation with cancer taking NOACs and warfarin from June 1, 2012, to December 31, 2017, respectively. Propensity score stabilized weighting was used to balance covariates across study groups.

RESULTS

There were 1031, 1758, 411, and 3074 patients treated with apixaban, dabigatran, edoxaban, and rivaroxaban, respectively. After propensity score stabilized weighting, NOAC was associated with a lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (hazard ratio, 0.63 [95% CI, 0.50-0.80]; P=0.0001), major adverse limb events (hazard ratio, 0.41 [95% CI, 0.24-0.70]; P=0.0010), venous thrombosis (hazard ratio, 0.37 [95% CI, 0.23-0.61]; P<0.0001), and major bleeding (hazard ratio, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.56-0.94]; P=0.0171) compared with warfarin. The outcomes were consistent with either direct thrombin inhibitor (dabigatran) or factor Xa inhibitor (apixaban, edoxaban, and rivaroxaban) use, among patients with stroke history, and among patients with different type of cancer and local, regional, or metastatic stage of cancer (P interaction >0.05). When compared with warfarin, NOAC was associated with lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular event, and venous thrombosis in patients aged <75 but not in those aged ≥75 years (P interaction <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Thromboprophylaxis with NOACs rather than warfarin should be considered for the majority of the atrial fibrillation population with cancer.

'Real-world' observational studies in arrhythmia research: data sources, methodology, and interpretation. A position document from European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA), endorsed by Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), Asia-Pacific HRS (APHRS), and Latin America HRS (LAHRS)

The field of observational studies or "real world studies" is in rapid development with many new techniques introduced and increased understanding of traditional methods. For this reason the current paper provides an overview of current methods with focus on new techniques. Some highlights can be emphasized: We provide an overview of sources of data for observational studies. There is an overview of sources of bias and confounding. Next There is an overview of causal inference techniques that are increasingly used. The most commonly used techniques for statistical modelling are reviewed with focus on the important distinction of risk versus prediction. The final section provides examples of common problems with reporting observational data.

Optimal Management of Anticoagulation Therapy in Asian Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Stroke prevention is the cornerstone of management of atrial fibrillation (AF), and non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are commonly prescribed. Because routine monitoring of anticoagulant effects of NOACs is not necessary, appropriate dosing following the criteria of each NOACs defined in pivotal randomized trials is important. Real-world data demonstrate that underdosing NOACs is associated with a higher risk of ischemic stroke without a lower risk of major bleeding. Furthermore, renal function of AF patients should be assessed using the Cockcroft-Gault formula to prevent overestimation that could result in overdosing of NOACs. The assessment of bleeding risk is important, and the HAS-BLED score should be used to help identify patients at high risk of bleeding (HAS-BLED score ≥3). Moreover, the HAS-BLED score should be reassessed at periodic intervals to address potentially modifiable bleeding risk factors because bleeding risks of AF patients are not static. When managing NOAC-related bleeding episodes, the possibility of occult malignancies (e.g., grastrointestinal [GI] tract cancers for patients experiencing GI bleeding and bladder cancer for patients with hematuria) should be kept in mind. Addressing all of these issues is crucial to achieving better clinical outcomes for anticoagulated AF patients. More efforts are necessary to incorporate clear and easy-to-follow recommendations about optimal management of anticoagulation into the guidelines to improve AF patient care.

Stroke and Bleeding Risk Assessment in Atrial Fibrillation: Where Are We Now?

Stroke prevention with oral anticoagulants (OACs) is the cornerstone for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). It is crucial to assess the stroke and bleeding risks of individual AF patients to make appropriate decisions for OAC use and achieve optimal patient care. In this review, we provided an overview on the correct use of CHA₂DS₂-VASc and HAS-BLED scores, and update important revisions about the definitions of some of the CHA₂DS₂-VASc components. Also, data about the biomarkers and potential roles of AF duration and left atrial functions in the prediction of stroke in AF were also discussed.

Most important international guidelines recommend the use of CHA₂DS₂-VASc and HAS-BLED scores for stroke and bleeding risk assessments in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, respectively. The 2020 AF guidelines of European Society of Cardiology have revised the definition of “C: congestive heart failure (HF)” component, and now patients with either HF with reduced ejection fraction or preserved ejection fraction should be assigned 1 point. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was also included. Besides, the revised “V: vascular diseases” component included both prior myocardial infarction and “angiographically significant coronary artery disease”. It is important to understand that the stroke and bleeding risks of AF patients were not static and should be re-assessed regularly. A high HAS-BLED score itself should not be the only reason to withhold or discontinue oral anticoagulants, but remind physicians for the corrections of modifiable bleeding risk factors and more regular follow up. In the future, the AF duration and left atrial function may play an important role for personalized evaluation of individual stroke risk while more studies are necessary.

CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED risk scores and real-world oral anticoagulant prescribing decisions in atrial fibrillation

Background: Guidelines indicate that oral anticoagulant (OAC) treatment decisions in atrial fibrillation should be based on a balanced consideration of thromboembolic and bleeding risk. Materials & methods: A retrospective cohort of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients were identified. Univariate logistic regression and conditional inference trees were used to quantify the importance of the CHA₂DS₂-VASc and modified HAS-BLED scores and their individual components on OAC treatment decisions. Results: The individual components of these risk scores provided more distinguishability between treated and untreated patients than the risk scores themselves, with bleeding risk factors strongly associated with nontreatment. Conclusion: While individual components of risk scores drive OAC treatment decisions according to guidelines, the relationship between bleeding risk factors and nontreatment warrants further consideration.

Beyond the 2020 guidelines on atrial fibrillation of the European society of cardiology

The most recent atrial fibrillation (AF) guidelines delivered by European Society of Cardiology (ESC) offer an updated approach to AF management, with the perspective of improved characterization of the arrhythmia, the cardiac substrate and the patients profile in terms of associated risk factors and comorbidities. Recommendations were based on careful scrutiny and assessment of all available evidence with the final aim to offer to practitioners a lower level of uncertainty in the complex process of decision making for patients with AF. The 2020 ESC guidelines on AF propose a paradigm shift in the clinical approach to AF patients, moving from a single-domain AF classification to comprehensive characterization of AF patients. Given the complex nature of AF, an integrated holistic management of AF patients is suggested by the guidelines for improving patients outcomes through the formal introduction of the CC (Confirm AF and Characterize AF) to ABC (Atrial fibrillation Better Care) pathway. In line with this concept, these new guidelines underline the importance of a more comprehensive management of AF patients which should not be limited to simply prescribe oral anticoagulation or decide between a rhythm or rate control strategy. Indeed, each step of the ABC pathway represents one of the pivotal pillars in the management of AF and only a holistic approach has the potential to improve patients' outcomes. In this review we will discuss the background that supports some of the new recommendations of 2020 ESC guidelines, with important implications for daily management of AF patients.

Development of imaging-based risk scores for prediction of intracranial haemorrhage and ischaemic stroke in patients taking antithrombotic therapy after ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack: a pooled analysis of individual patient data from cohort studies

BACKGROUND

Balancing the risks of recurrent ischaemic stroke and intracranial haemorrhage is important for patients treated with antithrombotic therapy after ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack. However, existing predictive models offer insufficient performance, particularly for assessing the risk of intracranial haemorrhage. We aimed to develop new risk scores incorporating clinical variables and cerebral microbleeds, an MRI biomarker of intracranial haemorrhage and ischaemic stroke risk.

METHODS

We did a pooled analysis of individual-patient data from the Microbleeds International Collaborative Network (MICON), which includes 38 hospital-based prospective cohort studies from 18 countries. All studies recruited participants with previous ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack, acquired baseline MRI allowing quantification of cerebral microbleeds, and followed-up participants for ischaemic stroke and intracranial haemorrhage. Participants not taking antithrombotic drugs were excluded. We developed Cox regression models to predict the 5-year risks of intracranial haemorrhage and ischaemic stroke, selecting candidate predictors on biological relevance and simplifying models using backward elimination. We derived integer risk scores for clinical use. We assessed model performance in internal validation, adjusted for optimism using bootstrapping. The study is registered on PROSPERO, CRD42016036602.

FINDINGS

The included studies recruited participants between Aug 28, 2001, and Feb 4, 2018. 15 766 participants had follow-up for intracranial haemorrhage, and 15 784 for ischaemic stroke. Over a median follow-up of 2 years, 184 intracranial haemorrhages and 1048 ischaemic strokes were reported. The risk models we developed included cerebral microbleed burden and simple clinical variables. Optimism-adjusted c indices were 0·73 (95% CI 0·69-0·77) with a calibration slope of 0·94 (0·81-1·06) for the intracranial haemorrhage model and 0·63 (0·62-0·65) with a calibration slope of 0·97 (0·87-1·07) for the ischaemic stroke model. There was good agreement between predicted and observed risk for both models.

INTERPRETATION

The MICON risk scores, incorporating clinical variables and cerebral microbleeds, offer predictive value for the long-term risks of intracranial haemorrhage and ischaemic stroke in patients prescribed antithrombotic therapy for secondary stroke prevention; external validation is warranted.

FUNDING

British Heart Foundation and Stroke Association.

Oral anticoagulants in extremely-high-risk, very elderly (>90 years) patients with atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND

The prevalence and incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) increase with age. However, older patients often are denied oral anticoagulation (OAC), especially if they are "very elderly" (age ≥90 years) and perceived to be high risk for bleeding, for example, those with a history of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB), or chronic kidney disease.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of OAC in this high-risk, very elderly group.

METHODS

We used the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database to identify high-risk, very elderly subjects taking OAC, either warfarin or a non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC), and compared them to non-OAC users for the composite net clinical endpoint of ischemic stroke, ICH, major bleeding, or mortality.

RESULTS

We studied 7362 subjects (mean age 92.5 years), of whom 1737 were taking NOACs, 670 warfarin, and 4955 non-OACs. Compared to non-OACs, warfarin was associated with a higher risk of the composite endpoint (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.163; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.052-1.287), whereas NOACs were associated with a lower risk (aHR 0.763; 95% CI 0.702-0.830). After propensity matching, NOACs were associated with a lower risk of events compared to non-OACs or warfarin, whereas warfarin had a similar risk compared to non-OACs.

CONCLUSION

Warfarin was associated with a similar or even higher risk of composite clinical outcomes compared to non-OACs. NOACs were associated with a lower risk of composite endpoint compared to warfarin or non-OACs, and their use still should be considered in these high-risk, very elderly AF patients.

Left atrial appendage occlusion in atrial fibrillation patients with previous intracranial bleeding: A national multicenter study

BACKGROUND

Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) represents the most serious complication of oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), and AF patients with previous ICH are a challenge for clinicians. Left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion has emerged as an alternative option for AF patients not suitable for OAT. Currently, few data are available on long term outcomes after LAA occlusion in this population. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of LAA occlusion in a cohort of patients with AF and previous ICH.

METHODS

This is a multicenter, observational, retrospective study involving 5 LAA occlusion centers in Italy. It includes all consecutive patients (n = 120) with previous ICH who underwent LAA occlusion for nonvalvular AF and high thromboembolic risk. Procedural outcomes, post-procedural therapies and 12-months follow-up data were analyzed.

RESULTS

The device was successfully implanted in 100% of cases, with a 6% of major peri-procedural complications. 59% had a prior ICH during OAT. The sample had a high risk of stroke (5.18%/year) and bleeding (6.62%/year). 30% were discharged on single and 54.2% on dual antiplatelet therapy. The expected annual risk for thromboembolism was 5.1%. Excluding periprocedural ischemic complications, the stroke annual rate was 1.8%. The expected annual risk of bleeding was 6.7%. The observed annual bleeding rate was 5.45%.

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous LAA occlusion is an effective option for AF patients and previous intracranial hemorrhage. After LAA occlusion, a single antiplatelet therapy strategy could be considered for patients with the highest risk of recurrent bleeding.

The 2020 Canadian Cardiovascular Society/Canadian Heart Rhythm Society Comprehensive Guidelines for the Management of Atrial Fibrillation

The Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) atrial fibrillation (AF) guidelines program was developed to aid clinicians in the management of these complex patients, as well as to provide direction to policy makers and health care systems regarding related issues. The most recent comprehensive CCS AF guidelines update was published in 2010. Since then, periodic updates were published dealing with rapidly changing areas. However, since 2010 a large number of developments had accumulated in a wide range of areas, motivating the committee to complete a thorough guideline review. The 2020 iteration of the CCS AF guidelines represents a comprehensive renewal that integrates, updates, and replaces the past decade of guidelines, recommendations, and practical tips. It is intended to be used by practicing clinicians across all disciplines who care for patients with AF. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) system was used to evaluate recommendation strength and the quality of evidence. Areas of focus include: AF classification and definitions, epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical evaluation, screening and opportunistic AF detection, detection and management of modifiable risk factors, integrated approach to AF management, stroke prevention, arrhythmia management, sex differences, and AF in special populations. Extensive use is made of tables and figures to synthesize important material and present key concepts. This document should be an important aid for knowledge translation and a tool to help improve clinical management of this important and challenging arrhythmia.

Regular Bleeding Risk Assessment Associated with Reduction in Bleeding Outcomes: The mAFA-II Randomized Trial

BACKGROUND

The mobile atrial fibrillation application (mAFA-II) randomized trial reported that a holistic management strategy supported by mobile health reduced atrial fibrillation-related adverse outcomes. The present study aimed to assess whether regular reassessment of bleeding risk using the Hypertension, Abnormal renal and liver function, Stroke, Bleeding, Labile international normalized ratio, Elderly, Drugs or alcohol (HAS-BLED) score would improve bleeding outcomes and oral anticoagulant (OAC) uptake.

METHODS

Bleeding risk (HAS-BLED score) was monitored prospectively using mAFA, and calculated as 30 days, days 31-60, days 61-180, and days 181-365. Clinical events and OAC changes in relation to the dynamic monitoring were analyzed.

RESULTS

We studied 1793 patients with atrial fibrillation (mean, standard deviation, age 64 years, 24 years, 32.5% female). Comparing baseline and 12 months, the proportion of atrial fibrillation patients with HAS-BLED ≥3 decreased (11.8% vs 8.5%, P = .008), with changes in use of concomitant nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs/antiplatelets, renal dysfunction, and labile international normalized ratio contributing to the decreased proportions of patients with HAS-BLED ≥3 (P < .05). Among 1077 (60%) patients who had 4 bleeding risk assessments, incident bleeding events decreased significantly from days 1-30 to days 181-365 (1.2% to 0.2%, respectively, P < .001). Total OAC usage increased from 63.4% to 70.2% (P_trend < .001). Compared with atrial fibrillation patients receiving usual care (n = 1136), bleeding events were significantly lower in atrial fibrillation patients with dynamic monitoring of their bleeding risk (mAFA vs usual care, 2.1%, 4.3%, P = .004). OAC use decreased significantly by 25% among AF patients receiving usual care, when comparing baseline to 12 months (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Dynamic risk monitoring using the HAS-BLED score, together with holistic App-based management using mAFA-II reduced bleeding events, addressed modifiable bleeding risks, and increased uptake of OACs.

Treatment strategies for patients with atrial fibrillation and anticoagulant-associated intracranial hemorrhage: an overview of the pharmacotherapy

INTRODUCTION

Oral anticoagulants (OAC) reduce stroke/systemic embolism and mortality risks in atrial fibrillation (AF). However, there is an inherent bleeding risk with OAC, where intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is the most feared, disabling, and lethal complication of this therapy. Therefore, the optimal management of OAC-associated ICH is not well defined despite multiple suggested strategies.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, the authors describe the severity and risk factors for OAC-associated ICH and the associated implications for using DOACs in AF patients. We also provide an overview of the management of OAC-associated ICH and treatment reversal strategies, including specific and nonspecific reversal agents as well as a comprehensive summary of the evidence about the resumption of DOAC and the optimal timing.

EXPERT OPINION

In the setting of an ICH, supportive care/measures are needed, and reversal of anticoagulation with specific agents (including administration of vitamin K, prothrombin complex concentrates, idarucizumab and andexanet alfa) should be considered. Most patients will likely benefit from restarting anticoagulation after an ICH and permanently withdrawn of OAC is associated with worse clinical outcomes. Although the timing of OAC resumption is still under debate, reintroduction after 4-8 weeks of the bleeding event may be possible, after a multidisciplinary approach to decision-making.

Risk stratification and outcomes of intracranial hemorrhage in patients with immune thrombocytopenia under 60 years of age

Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating complication of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). However, information on ICH in ITP patients under the age of 60 years is limited, and no predictive tools are available in clinical practice. A total of 93 adult patients with ITP who developed ICH before 60 years of age were retrospectively identified from 2005 to 2019 by 27 centers in China. For each case, 2 controls matched by the time of ITP diagnosis and the duration of ITP were provided by the same center. Multivariate analysis identified head trauma (OR = 3.216, 95%CI 1.296-7.979, P =.012), a platelet count ≤ 15,000/μL at the time of ITP diagnosis (OR = 1.679, 95%CI 1.044-2.698, P =.032) and severe/life-threatening bleeding (severe bleeding vs. mild bleeding, OR = 1.910, 95%CI 1.088-3.353, P =.024; life-threatening bleeding vs. mild bleeding, OR = 2.620, 95%CI 1.360-5.051, P =.004) as independent risk factors for ICH. Intraparenchymal hemorrhage (OR = 5.191, 95%CI 1.717-15.692, P =.004) and a history of severe bleeding (OR = 4.322, 95%CI 1.532-12.198, P =.006) were associated with the 30-day outcome of ICH. These findings may facilitate ICH risk stratification and outcome prediction in patients with ITP.

Murcia atrial fibrillation project II: protocol for a prospective observational study in patients with atrial fibrillation

INTRODUCTION

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is characterised by a high stroke risk. Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) are the most commonly used oral anticoagulants (OACs) in Spain, but their efficacy and safety depend on the time in therapeutic range of International Normalized Ratio (INR) 2.0-3.0 over 65%-70%. Unfortunately, the difficulties of maintaining an optimal level of anticoagulation and the complications of VKAs (particularly haemorrhagic ones), frequently lead to cessation of this therapy, which has been associated with higher risk of adverse events (AEs), including ischaemic stroke. Our aims are as follows: (1) to evaluate the quality of oral anticoagulation with VKAs, the prevalence of poor quality of anticoagulation, and to identify factors predisposing to poor quality anticoagulation; and (2) to identify patients who will stop OAC and to investigate what factors influence the decision of OAC withdrawal.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Prospective observational cohort study including outpatients newly diagnosed with AF and naïve for OACs from July 2016 to June 2018 in an anticoagulation clinic. Patients with prosthetic heart valves, rheumatic mitral valves or valvular AF will be excluded. Follow-up will extend for up to 3 years. During this period, the INR results and changes in the anticoagulant therapy will be recorded, as well as all AEs, or any other information that would be relevant to the proper conduct of research.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

All patients were informed about the nature and purpose of the study, and the protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Hospital General Universitario Morales Meseguer (reference: EST:20/16). This is an observational study focusing on 'real life' practice and therefore all treatments and follow-up will be performed in accordance to the routine clinical practice with no specific interventions or visits. The results of our study will be disseminated by presentations at national and international meetings, and publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Antithrombotic Management After Intracranial Hemorrhage

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Intracranial hemorrhage remains one of the most feared acute neurological emergencies. However, apart from the acute management, secondary risk factor management and prevention of ischemic events remains ambiguous. We present a thorough review of the current data available regarding management of antithrombotics after intracranial hemorrhage.

RECENT FINDINGS

The most robust evidence comes from the investigators of the RESTART trial which reassured the safety of resuming antiplatelet therapy after ICH, namely in patients with prior indication and treatment with antithrombotics. We conclude that based on available data, the risk of recurrent ICH is probably too small to exceed the found benefits of antiplatelet therapy in the secondary prevention of ischemic vascular disease.

The 2018 European Heart Rhythm Association Practical Guide on the use of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation

The current manuscript is the second update of the original Practical Guide, published in 2013 [Heidbuchel et al. European Heart Rhythm Association Practical Guide on the use of new oral anticoagulants in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Europace 2013;15:625-651; Heidbuchel et al. Updated European Heart Rhythm Association Practical Guide on the use of non-vitamin K antagonist anticoagulants in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Europace 2015;17:1467-1507]. Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are an alternative for vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) to prevent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and have emerged as the preferred choice, particularly in patients newly started on anticoagulation. Both physicians and patients are becoming more accustomed to the use of these drugs in clinical practice. However, many unresolved questions on how to optimally use these agents in specific clinical situations remain. The European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) set out to coordinate a unified way of informing physicians on the use of the different NOACs. A writing group identified 20 topics of concrete clinical scenarios for which practical answers were formulated, based on available evidence. The 20 topics are as follows i.e., (1) Eligibility for NOACs; (2) Practical start-up and follow-up scheme for patients on NOACs; (3) Ensuring adherence to prescribed oral anticoagulant intake; (4) Switching between anticoagulant regimens; (5) Pharmacokinetics and drug-drug interactions of NOACs; (6) NOACs in patients with chronic kidney or advanced liver disease; (7) How to measure the anticoagulant effect of NOACs; (8) NOAC plasma level measurement: rare indications, precautions, and potential pitfalls; (9) How to deal with dosing errors; (10) What to do if there is a (suspected) overdose without bleeding, or a clotting test is indicating a potential risk of bleeding; (11) Management of bleeding under NOAC therapy; (12) Patients undergoing a planned invasive procedure, surgery or ablation; (13) Patients requiring an urgent surgical intervention; (14) Patients with AF and coronary artery disease; (15) Avoiding confusion with NOAC dosing across indications; (16) Cardioversion in a NOAC-treated patient; (17) AF patients presenting with acute stroke while on NOACs; (18) NOACs in special situations; (19) Anticoagulation in AF patients with a malignancy; and (20) Optimizing dose adjustments of VKA. Additional information and downloads of the text and anticoagulation cards in different languages can be found on an EHRA website (www.NOACforAF.eu).

Should We Judge Stroke Risk by Static or Dynamic Risk Scores? A Focus on the Dynamic Nature of Stroke and Bleeding Risks in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia and a major risk factor for stroke. The number of patients with AF is predicted to increase in the next few decades. AF has also negative impact on quality of life as well as it significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and overall mortality. Because the stroke is a pivotal outcome of AF, its prevention with the use of anticoagulation therapy constitutes an important component of AF management. The decision on oral anticoagulants' prescription should be based on appropriate risk stratification to allow for comprehensive assessment of benefit/hazard ratio of stroke and bleeding along with patients' preference. Several risk scores for stroke and bleeding as well as for stroke and systemic embolism have been developed, mainly in patients on vitamin K antagonists. AF guidelines stress the need for repetitive evaluation of thromboembolic and bleeding risks to tailor optimal AF management. Indeed, risk is not a static "one off" process and it should be adjusted for dynamic nature of risk factors. However, most risk scores are calculated according to baseline characteristics of patients, but the older the patients get, the more comorbidities they acquire, which influences stroke risk significantly. Hence, the default management of every patient with AF should include a regular reassessment of stroke and bleeding risk factors.

Considerations when restarting anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation after bleeding

Introduction: Oral anticoagulants (OACs) are established treatments to reduce thromboembolic risk in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Due to their mechanisms of action, they are associated with increased bleeding risk. Evaluation with bleeding risk scores may be useful to identify patients at high risk. However, the approach in patients who have suffered a recent bleeding event while on OACs is a contentious issue. If a decision is made to re-initiate OACs, the optimal timing for this remains controversial. Areas covered: Bleeding risk scores were designed to evaluate risk in patients with AF and indications for OACs. Some practical schemes were created to manage bleeding in this population. The types of bleeding were classified as minor, major non-life-threatening and major life-threatening bleeding. In AF patients suffering from severe acute bleeding, it is recommended to withhold OACs until the underlying cause is identified and treated. Each case will require an individualized decision to restarting OAC therapy after consideration of the risks, benefits, alternatives and patient's choice in the matter. Expert opinion: Management of major bleeding and restarting OACs in patients with a recent major bleeding poses a special challenge due to high bleeding and thrombotic risk. This will be discussed in this review.

Relationship of stroke and bleeding risk profiles to efficacy and safety of dabigatran dual therapy versus warfarin triple therapy in atrial fibrillation after percutaneous coronary intervention: An ancillary analysis from the RE-DUAL PCI trial

BACKGROUND

In the RE-DUAL PCI trial of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), dabigatran dual therapy (110 or 150 mg bid, plus clopidogrel or ticagrelor) reduced International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis bleeding events compared with warfarin triple therapy, with noninferiority in overall thromboembolic events. This analysis assessed outcomes in relation to patient bleeding and stroke risk profiles, based on the modified HAS-BLED and CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores.

METHODS

The primary endpoint, major bleeding event (MBE) or clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding event (CRNMBE), was compared across study arms in patients categorized by modified HAS-BLED score 0-2 or ≥3. The composite endpoint of death, thromboembolic event, and unplanned revascularization rates was compared in patients categorized by CHA₂DS₂-VASc score 0-1, 2, or ≥3.

RESULTS

Risk of MBE or CRNMBE was lower with dabigatran dual therapy (both doses) versus warfarin triple therapy, irrespective of modified HAS-BLED category (treatment-by-subgroup interaction P-value 0.584 and 0.273 for dabigatran 110 and 150 mg dual therapy, respectively, vs warfarin). Risk of the composite thromboembolic endpoint was similar across CHA₂DS₂-VASc categories and consistent with overall study results (interaction P-value 0.739 and 0.075 for dabigatran 110 and 150 mg dual therapy, respectively, vs warfarin). Higher HAS-BLED scores were associated with higher risks of bleeding in AF patients after PCI in a treatment-independent analysis.

CONCLUSION

Dabigatran dual therapy reduced bleeding events irrespective of bleeding risk category and demonstrated similar efficacy regardless of stroke risk category when compared with warfarin triple therapy.

Atrial fibrillation and stroke: a practical guide

Neurologists and stroke physicians will be familiar with atrial fibrillation as a major cause of ischaemic stroke, and the role of anticoagulation in preventing cardioembolic stroke. However, making decisions about anticoagulation for individual patients remains a difficult area of clinical practice, balancing the serious risk of ischaemic stroke against that of major bleeding, particularly intracranial haemorrhage. Atrial fibrillation management requires interdisciplinary collaboration with colleagues in cardiology and haematology. Recent advances, especially the now-widespread availability of direct oral anticoagulants, have brought opportunities to improve stroke care while posing new challenges. This article gives an overview of the contemporary diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation, and the associated evidence base. Where there is uncertainty, we describe our own approach to these areas, while highlighting ongoing research that will likely guide future practice.

Impact of Body Mass Index on Outcomes in the Edoxaban Versus Warfarin Therapy Groups in Patients Underwent Cardioversion of Atrial Fibrillation (from ENSURE-AF)

In the EdoxabaN versus warfarin in subjectS UndeRgoing cardiovErsion of Atrial Fibrillation study (NCT 02072434), edoxaban showed similar efficacy and safety versus enoxaparin-warfarin in patients underwent electrical cardioversion of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. In this ancillary analysis, we compared the primary efficacy (composite of stroke, systemic embolic event, myocardial infarction, cardiovascular death, and overall study period) and safety (composite of major and clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding, on-treatment) end points in relation to body mass index (BMI; <30 vs ≥30 kg/m²). We also compared cardioversion outcomes in relation to BMI. Of 2,199 patients enrolled, 1,095 were randomized to edoxaban and 1,104 to enoxaparin-warfarin. Mean age was 64 ± 10 and 64 ± 11 years and mean BMI 30.6 and 30.7 kg/m², respectively. Cardiovascular and metabolic diseases were more prevalent in obese (n = 1067) than nonobese patients. Overall ischemic event rates were low; rates in the BMI <30 kg/m² subgroup were numerically lower than the ≥30 kg/m² subgroup, but not significantly different (odds ratio [OR], 0.74 [95% confidence interval 0.23, 2.24]). Composite major + clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding rates were low and numerically lower, but not significantly different (OR 0.88 [0.38, 2.04]), between the edoxaban and enoxaparin-warfarin arms and across weight categories. Successful cardioversion rate was higher in the BMI <30 versus ≥30 kg/m² subgroup (73.9% vs 69.9%; OR 1.22 [1.01 to 1.48]). In EdoxabaN versus warfarin in subjectS UndeRgoing cardiovErsion of Atrial Fibrillation, BMI did not significantly impact the relative efficacy and safety of edoxaban versus enoxaparin-warfarin. Nevertheless, the nonobese group had a higher rate of cardioversion success than the obese group.

2018 Korean Guideline of Atrial Fibrillation Management

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia in the general population. The Korean Heart Rhythm Society organized a Korean AF Management Guideline Committee and analyzed all available studies regarding the management of AF, including studies on Korean patients. This guideline is based on recent data of the Korean population and the recent guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology, European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, American Heart Association, and Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society. Expert consensus or guidelines for the optimal management of Korean patients with AF were achieved after a systematic review with intensive discussion. This article provides general principles for appropriate risk stratification and selection of anticoagulation therapy in Korean patients with AF. This guideline deals with optimal stroke prevention, screening, rate and rhythm control, risk factor management, and integrated management of AF.