Relationship between multimorbidity and outcomes in atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND

Multimorbidity is common in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) is used to evaluate multimorbidity in the general population. Limited long-term data are available on the relationship between CCI and AF. We examined the association between CCI, anticoagulation control and outcomes in AF patients.

METHODS

We studied 1956 from the FANTASIIA registry, an observational Spanish nationwide study on anticoagulated AF patients. Time in therapeutic range (TTR) was used to evaluate anticoagulation control. Stroke/TIA, major bleeding, cardiovascular (CV) death and all-cause death were study outcomes.

RESULTS

Mean ± SD CCI was 1.1 ± 1.2. Based on CCI quartiles, patients were categorised in four groups: 676 (34.6%) in Q1 (CCI 0); 683 (34.9%) in Q2 (CCI 1); 345 (17.6%) in Q3 (CCI 2); and 252 (12.9%) in Q4 (CCI ≥3). In vitamin K antagonist treated patients, the highest CCI quartile was inversely associated with TTR >70% (odds ratio:0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI):0.45-0.99). During observation, a progressively higher rate of major bleeding, CV death and all-cause death was found across the quartiles (all p < 0.001). The final Cox multivariable regression analysis showed an association with increasing risk for major bleeding occurrence in Q3 and Q4 (hazard ratio (HR):1.69, 95%CI:1.00-2.87 and HR:1.92, 95%CI:1.08-3.41). An increasing risk for all-cause death and CV death was found across CCI quartiles.

CONCLUSIONS

In a nationwide contemporary cohort of AF anticoagulated patients, multimorbidity was inversely associated with good anticoagulation control. A progressively higher risk for major bleeding, CV death and all-cause death was found across CCI quartiles.

Influence of sex on long-term prognosis in patients with atrial fibrillation treated with oral anticoagulants. Results from the prospective, nationwide FANTASIIA study

BACKGROUND

While many risk factors for Atrial Fibrillation (AF) have been identified, there are important differences in their relative impact between sexes. The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of sex as a long-term predictor of adverse events in "real world" AF patients treated with direct oral anticoagulants.

METHODS

The FANTASIIA registry is a prospective, national and multicentric study including outpatients with anticoagulated AF patients. Baseline characteristics and adverse events at 3 years of follow-up were collected and classified by sex. Cox multivariate analysis was performed to investigate the role of sex in major events and composite outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 1956 patients were included in the study. 43.9% of them were women, with a mean age of 73.8 ± 9.4 years (women were older 76.5 ± 7.9 vs 71.7 ± 10.1, p<0.001). Women had higher rate of cardiovascular risk factors and higher mean of CHA₂DS₂-VASc (4.4 ± 1.4 vs 3.7 ± 1.6, p<0.001) and HAS-BLED (2.1 ± 1.0 vs 1.9 ± 1.1, p<0.001) than men. After 3 years of follow-up, rates of major events were similar in both groups with limit difference for all-cause mortality (4.4%/year in women vs 5.6%/year in men; p = 0.056). However, all the composite events were more frequent in women. We observed in the non-adjusted adverse events lower rate of all-cause mortality (HR 0.62, 95%CI 0.47-0.81; p<0.001), composite 1 outcomes (HR 0.80, 95%CI 0.65-0.98; p = 0.029) and composite 2 (HR 0.77, 95%CI 0.64-0.94; p = 0.010) in women compared with men. In multivariate Cox regression analysis observed that female sex was an independently protector factor for all-cause mortality and for the composite outcomes 1 and 2.

CONCLUSIONS

In this "real world" study of anticoagulated AF patients, women could have a protective role against development of adverse events, mainly on all-cause mortality and combined events.

Use of edoxaban in clinical practice: Comparison of data from the Spanish population in the ETNA-AF-Europe registry

Aim: To ascertain the clinical profile and management of edoxaban in clinical practice. Materials & methods: Prospective, noninterventional postauthorization study of nonselected patients with atrial fibrillation treated with edoxaban from 12 European countries. Patients' baseline characteristics are presented. Results: A total of 13,638 patients (73.6 ± 9.5 years; 76.6/23.4% edoxaban 60/30 mg; CHA₂DS₂-VASc 3.1; 838 [6.1%] from Spain) were included. In Spain, the percentage of very elderly and fragile patients was greater and the risk of thromboembolism (CHA₂DS₂-VASc ≥2, 98.0 vs 87.3%; p < 0.001) and bleeding (HAS-BLED, 3.2 vs 2.7; p < 0.001) was greater in patients treated with edoxaban 30 mg. The proportion of patients taking edoxaban 30 mg was similar than in ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48. Conclusion: In Spain, patients treated with edoxaban were older and fragile.

Security profile of direct anticoagulants. Preferred use in atrial fibrillation

A multidisciplinary panel of cardiologists, neurologists, internal medicine and specialists in hemostasis and thrombosis has elaborated this document showing recent scientific evidences supporting a better profile of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) versus vitaminK antagonists (VKA), as well as the indications of specific antidotes and hemostatic agents to reverse the anticoagulant effects of DOACs. The analysis reinforces the best profile of DOACs and its special benefit in patients with basal high hemorrhagic risk.

Atrial Fibrillation in Active Cancer Patients: Expert Position Paper and Recommendations

Improvements in survival among cancer patients have revealed the clinical impact of cardiotoxicity on both cardiovascular and hematological and oncological outcomes, especially when it leads to the interruption of highly effective antitumor therapies. Atrial fibrillation is a common complication in patients with active cancer and its treatment poses a major challenge. These patients have an increased thromboembolic and hemorrhagic risk but standard stroke prediction scores have not been validated in this population. The aim of this expert consensus-based document is to provide a multidisciplinary and practical approach to the prevention and treatment of atrial fibrillation in patients with active cancer. This is a position paper of the Spanish Cardio-Oncology working group and the Spanish Thrombosis working group, drafted in collaboration with experts from the Spanish Society of Cardiology, the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology, the Spanish Society of Radiation Oncology, and the Spanish Society of Hematology.

Direct oral anticoagulants versus vitamin K antagonists in real-world patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. The FANTASIIA study

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

To compare the long-term results of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) vs vitamin K antagonists (VKA) in real-world-patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) in a nationwide, prospective study.

METHODS

The FANTASIIA registry prospectively included outpatients with AF anticoagulated with DOAC or VKA (per protocol, proportion of VKA and DOAC 4:1), consecutively recruited from June 2013 to October 2014 in Spain. The incidence of major events was analyzed and compared according to the anticoagulant treatment received.

RESULTS

A total of 2178 patients were included in the study (mean age 73.8±9.4 years), and 43.8% were women. Of these, 533 (24.5%) received DOAC and 1645 (75.5%) VKA. After a median follow up of 32.4 months, patients receiving DOAC vs those receiving VKA had lower rates of stroke-0.40 (95%CI, 0.17-0.97) vs 1.07 (95%CI,0.79-1.46) patients/y, P=.032-, severe bleedings-2.13 (95%CI, 1.45-3.13) vs 3.28 (95%CI, 2.75-3.93) patients/y; P = .044-, cardiovascular death-1.20 (95%CI, 0.72-1.99) vs 2.45 (95%CI, 2.00-3.00) patients/y; P = .009-, and all-cause death-3.77 (95%CI, 2.83-5.01) vs 5.54 (95%CI, 4.83-6.34) patients/y; P = .016-. In a modified Cox regression model by the Andersen-Gill method for multiple events, hazard ratios for patients receiving DOAC were: 0.42 (0.16-1.07) for stroke; 0.47 (0.20-1.16) for total embolisms; 0.76 (0.50-1.15) for severe bleedings; 0.67 (0.39-1.18) for cardiovascular death; 0.86 (0.62-1.19) for all-cause death, and 0.82 (0.64-1.05) for the combined event consisting of stroke, embolism, severe bleeding, and all-cause death.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with VKA, DOAC is associated with a trend to a lower incidence of all major events, including death, in patients with NVAF in Spain.

Relation of quality of anticoagulation control with different management systems among patients with atrial fibrillation: Data from FANTASIIA Registry

BACKGROUND

Anticoagulation control in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) has a multidisciplinary approach although is usually managed by general practitioners (GP) or haematologists. The aim of our study was to assess the quality of anticoagulation control with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in relation to the responsible specialist in a "real-world" AF population.

METHODS

We consecutively enrolled VKA anticoagulated patients included in the FANTASIIA Registry from 2013 to 2015. We analysed demographical, clinical characteristics and the quality of anticoagulation control according to the specialist responsible (ie GPs or haematologists).

RESULTS

Data on 1584 patients were included (42.5% females, mean age 74.0 ± 9.4 years): 977 (61.7%) patients were controlled by GPs and 607 (38.3%) by haematologists. Patients managed by GPs had higher previous heart disease (53.2% vs 43.3%, P < .001), heart failure (32.9% vs 26.5%, P < .008) and dilated cardiomyopathy (15.2% vs 8.7%, P < .001) with better renal function (69.3 ± 24.7 vs 63.1 ± 21.4 mL/min, P < .001) compared to patients managed by haematologists. There was no difference between groups in the type of AF, CHA₂ DS₂ -VASc or HAS-BLED scores, but patients with electrical cardioversion were more prevalent in GP group. The overall mean time in therapeutic range (TTR) assessed by Rosendaal method was 61.5 ± 24.9%; 52.6% of patients had TTR<65% and 60% of patients had TTR<70%. TTR was significantly lower in patients controlled by haematologists than by GPs (63 ± 24.4 vs 59.2 ± 25.6, P < .005).

CONCLUSIONS

About 60% of AF patients anticoagulated with VKAs had poor anticoagulation control (ie TTR<70%), and their management was only slightly better than when it is managed by general practitioners.

Current Antiarrhythmic Therapy for Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation in Spain. Data From the FANTASIIA Registry

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Recently, there have been many developments in the management of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, antiarrhythmic and anticoagulant therapy, and nonpharmacological treatment, but these developments are not applied immediately in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to identify the overall management and antiarrhythmic therapy used in the current general population of patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation in Spain.

METHODS

A prospective, observational study of 1318 consecutive anticoagulated patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, recruited between June 2013 and March 2014. We analyzed the patients' general characteristics, management, and antiarrhythmic therapy.

RESULTS

Mean age was 73.8 ± 9.4 years; 42.5% were women. Atrial fibrillation was paroxysmal in 28% of the patients, permanent in 50%, persistent in 17.6%, long-standing persistent in 4.5%, and new-onset in 66 patients (5%). A rhythm control strategy was chosen in 39.4% of the patients and rate control in 60.6%. Beta-blockers were prescribed in 60.2% of the patients, digoxin in 19.5%, and calcium channel antagonists in 10.7%. The antiarrhythmic agents used were amiodarone (12.6%), flecainide (8.9%), propafenone (0.4%), sotalol (0.5%), and dronedarone (2.3%). Cardioversion had been performed previously in 41.9% of the patients, ablation in 3.4%, and atrial appendage closure in 0.2%.

CONCLUSIONS

Currently, patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation in Spain are managed mainly with rate control, and beta-blockers in particular. They receive few antiarrhythmic agents and only a very small number of these patients undergo nonpharmacological treatments.