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Aims To determine the risk of subsequent adverse clinical outcomes in anticoagulated patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who experienced a new bleeding event. Methods and results Anticoagulated AF patients were followed in two prospective cohort studies. Information on incident bleeding was systematically collected during yearly follow-up visits and events were adjudicated as major bleeding or clinically relevant non-major bleeding (CRNMB) according to the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis guidelines. The primary outcome was a composite of stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), or all-cause death. Time-updated multivariable Cox proportional-hazards models were used to compare outcomes in patients with and without incident bleeding. Median follow-up was 4.08 years [interquartile range (IQR): 2.93–5.98]. Of the 3277 patients included (mean age 72 years, 28.5% women), 646 (19.7%) developed a new bleeding, 297 (9.1%) a major bleeding and 418 (12.8%) a CRNMB. The incidence of the primary outcome was 7.08 and 4.04 per 100 patient-years in patients with and without any bleeding [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.16–1.61; P < 0.001; median time between a new bleeding and a primary outcome 306 days (IQR: 23–832)]. Recurrent bleeding occurred in 126 patients [incidence, 8.65 per 100 patient-years (95% CI: 7.26–10.30)]. In patients with and without a major bleeding, the incidence of the primary outcome was 11.00 and 4.06 per 100 patient-years [aHR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.69–2.46; P < 0.001; median time to a primary outcome 142 days (IQR: 9–518)], and 59 had recurrent bleeding [11.61 per 100 patient-years (95% CI: 8.99–14.98)]. The incidence of the primary outcome was 5.29 and 4.55 in patients with and without CRNMB [aHR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.76–1.15; P = 0.53; median time to a composite outcome 505 days (IQR: 153–1079)], and 87 had recurrent bleeding [8.43 per 100 patient-years (95% CI: 6.83–10.40)]. Patients who had their oral anticoagulation (OAC) discontinued after their first bleeding episode had a higher incidence of the primary composite than those who continued OAC (63/89 vs. 159/557 patients; aHR: 4.46, 95% CI: 3.16–6.31; P < 0.001). Conclusion In anticoagulated AF patients, major bleeding but not CRNMB was associated with a high risk of adverse outcomes, part of which may be explained by OAC discontinuation. Most events occurred late after the bleeding episode, emphasizing the importance of long-term follow-up in these patients.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with cognitive dysfunction. However, neurocognitive function in AF patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) has not been well studied. The aim of this analysis is to compare neurocognitive function in patients who did or did not undergo PVI.We used data from the Swiss Atrial Fibrillation Cohort study (Swiss-AF), a prospective, observational, multicenter study in Switzerland. Patients with documented AF were enrolled and data of 1,576 patients without history of PVI and with complete information on PVI status and neurocognitive function were used. Information on PVI was collected at baseline and during 1 year of follow-up. Neurocognitive testing was performed at baseline and after 1 year of follow-up, using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), trail making test (TMT) A and B, digit symbol substitution test (DSST) and semantic fluency test (SFT). To investigate the association of PVI with neurocognitive function, we use propensity score matching (1:3) and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW).The mean age of this population was 74 ± 8 years, 27.1% were women. Overall, 88 (5.5%) patients underwent PVI during 1 year of follow-up. Using ITPW (In this population of AF patients, there was no consistent evidence of an association between PVI and neurocognitive function.[https://clinicaltrials.gov/], identifier [NCT02105844].

AimsEvidence on long-term costs of atrial fibrillation (AF) and associated factors is scarce. As part of the Swiss-AF prospective cohort study we aimed to characterise AF costs and their development over time, and to assess specific patient clusters and their cost trajectories.MethodsSwiss-AF enrolled 2,415 patients with variable duration of AF between 2014 and 2017. Patient clusters were identified using hierarchical cluster analysis of baseline characteristics. Ongoing yearly follow-ups include health insurance clinical and claims data. An algorithm was developed to adjudicate costs to AF and related complications.ResultsHierarchical analysis identified three patient clusters. “Cardiovascular-dominated” (CV-dominated) patients had the highest proportions of prior myocardial infarction and presence of diabetes. “Heart failure-dominated” (HF-dominated) patients had the highest occurrence of heart failure and permanent AF. “Isolated symptomatic” (IS) patients were younger and had the highest occurrence of paroxysmal AF. A subpopulation of 1,024 Swiss-AF patients with available claims data was followed up for a median [interquartile range] of 3.24 [1.09] years. Average yearly AF-adjudicated costs amounted to CHF 5,679, remaining stable across the observation period. CV-dominated (N = 253 with claims data) and HF-dominated patients (N = 185) depicted similarly high costs across all cost outcomes, the IS (N = 586) patients accrued the lowest costs.ConclusionOur results highlight three well-differentiated patient clusters with specific costs that could be used for stratification in both clinical and economic studies. Patient characteristics associated with adjudicated costs as well as cost trajectories may enable an early understanding of the magnitude of upcoming AF-related healthcare costs.What is already known on this topicAtrial fibrillation (AF) is a complex disease and constitutes a major economic and societal challenge due to its high prevalence worldwide.What this study addsThis study, based on a large prospective cohort study, provides evidence on real-world AF costs and their development over time. Data-derived patient clusters are linked to costs and their respective cost trajectories are assessed.How this study might affect research, practice or policyThe identified patient clusters and their characteristics may help clinicians and payers to gain an early insight and understanding of the magnitude of the expected AF-related healthcare costs.