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Background: An effective and safe oral anticoagulation (OAC) strategy for patients with new postoperative AF (POAF) after noncardiac surgery remains unclear. We aimed to determine the association between OAC use and 1) thromboembolic events and 2) major bleeding in patients with POAF after noncardiac surgery., Methods: A retrospective cohort (1999-2015) was used to identify patients with new POAF after inpatient noncardiac surgery. Initiation of OAC was defined as prescription of an OAC within 30 days following hospital discharge. Times to first hospital admission or emergency department visit for a thromboembolic or major bleeding event were compared using Cox proportional hazards models., Results: We identified 22,007 patients with new POAF after inpatient noncardiac surgery. The majority of patients had intermediate (CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc 2-3: 45%) to high (CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc ≥ 4: 42%) thromboembolic risk. During a mean follow-up of 4 years, a total of 1099 (5%) thromboembolic and 3250 (15%) bleeding events occurred. Compared with patients not on anticoagulation, anticoagulation did not reduce the risk for thromboembolic events (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.89, 95% CI 0.73-1.07). In patients initiated on anticoagulation, there was an association with a higher risk for major bleeding (aHR 1.14, 95% CI 1.04-1.25)., Conclusions: In patients with new POAF after noncardiac surgery, anticoagulation was not associated with a reduction in long-term thromboembolic events; however, this was accompanied by an overall increased risk for major bleeding. Future prospective clinical studies are needed to better address the role for anticoagulation therapy in the setting of POAF after noncardiac surgery to understand the efficacy and safety of treatment., (Copyright © 2020 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Catheter ablation (CA) is an established therapy for atrial fibrillation (AF). Studies regarding long-term real-world outcomes post-CA have inconsistently accounted for oral anticoagulation (OAC)., Objectives: To describe patterns of OAC use post-CA and to compare the OAC-adjusted long-term risk of stroke and major bleeding in AF patients with and without CA., Methods: A population-based cohort of AF patients was constructed in Quebec and Ontario, Canada (1999-2014). Propensity score matching was performed to determine the incidence rates of stroke and major bleeding among those undergoing CA, adjusted for time-dependent OAC use., Results: From the entire cohort, 6391 patients were identified as having undergone CA as compared to 482 977 patients who did not. Of these, 1240 patients with government medical insurance undergoing CA were matched with 2427 patients without CA. Post-CA, 78%, 65%, and 61% remained on an OAC at 1, 2, and 5 years, while 75%, 71%, and 68% of patients not undergoing CA were on OACs at 1, 2, and 5 years. At follow-up, there was no statistically significant difference for stroke (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.88; 95% CI, 0.63 to 1.21) or major bleeding (adjusted HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.73 to 1.06)., Conclusion: No evidence was found that CA significantly decreases the risk of stroke or major bleeding when adjusting for OAC use over time. It may be prudent to continue anticoagulation post-CA based on patient-risk profile until randomized trials demonstrate both reduced stroke rates with CA, and improved safety (balancing stroke and bleeding risk) with OAC discontinuation post-CA., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine if anticoagulation of patients with new onset secondary atrial fibrillation (AF) occurring with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), acute pulmonary disease, or sepsis is associated with a reduction in ischemic stroke or an increase in bleeding risk., Background: Studies evaluating the benefits and risks of anticoagulation in secondary AF are infrequent, and the optimal management of these patients is not well understood., Methods: A retrospective study cohort was identified of 2,304 patients age 65 years or older, hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of ACS, acute pulmonary disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia/influenza, pulmonary embolism, or pleural effusion) or sepsis, and a complication of new-onset AF during admission from 1999 to 2015., Results: Over a follow-up of ∼3 years, we did not identify any association between anticoagulation and a lower incidence of ischemic stroke in patients with new-onset AF occurring with ACS, acute pulmonary disease, or sepsis (odds ratio [OR]: 1.22 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.65 to 2.27], OR: 0.97 [95% CI: 0.53 to 1.77], and OR: 1.98 [95% CI: 0.29 to 13.47]), after adjusting for confounders. However, anticoagulation was associated with a higher risk of bleeding in patients with AF associated with acute pulmonary disease (OR: 1.72 [95% CI: 1.23 to 2.39]), but not in ACS or sepsis (OR: 1.42 [95% CI: 0.94 to 2.14], OR: 0.96 [95% CI: 0.29 to 3.21])., Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that the benefit of anticoagulation in secondary AF is not strong and can be associated with a higher risk of bleeding. Careful individual assessment regarding decisions on anticoagulation is warranted in these patients., (Copyright © 2018 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In elderly patients (≥ 75 years), evidence of dabigatran efficacy is lacking and increased vigilance is warranted. We aimed to assess dabigatran effectiveness and safety in elderly patients in real-world practice. We conducted a population-based study using administrative databases, in Quebec (1999-2013). Dabigatran users (110/150 mg) were compared with matched warfarin users with regard to stroke and bleeding events. Age was categorised into < 75 or ≥ 75 years. Propensity score adjusted models were used. The cohort consisted of 15,918 dabigatran users and 47,192 matched warfarin users, with 67.3% being elderly patients. The elderly predominantly used the lower dose (80.1%) while younger patients mainly used the higher dose (80.0%). In multivariable analyses adjusted for propensity score, the risk of stroke in elderly patients using dabigatran, was no different than the risk in warfarin users (HR 1.05, 95% CI: 0.93, 1.19) regardless of dabigatran dose. However, dabigatran was associated with lower rates of intracranial haemorrhage (HR 0.60, 95% CI: 0.47-0.76) and higher rates of gastrointestinal bleeding (HR 1.30 95% CI: 1.14-1.50) when compared to warfarin. Based on real-life experience, dabigatran can offer an alternative to warfarin in elderly patients, with fewer intracranial bleeding events. However, caution is warranted for gastrointestinal bleeding.

Background: Novel therapies for anticoagulation and rhythm control for atrial fibrillation (AF) have been developed recently. To best evaluate the comparative effectiveness of newer agents, practice patterns and outcomes of existing therapies must be characterized at the population level., Methods: We conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study of patients ≥ 65 years with a first diagnosis of AF over a 9-year period in Québec and Ontario. Using hospital and drug claims databases, trends of filled prescriptions, and rates of strokes, bleeding complications, and mortality within 1 year were estimated., Results: From 1998 to 2006, 338, 479 patients were hospitalized with an AF diagnosis. Median age was 77.5 years and 50.4% were male. Use of rate control was 3-fold higher than rhythm control therapy. There was a modest decrease in rate control therapy until 2001 (71.9% to 70.6%, P = 0.01), followed by a progressive increase (70.6% to 76.4%, P = 0.014). An opposite trend was observed for rhythm control. Although warfarin prescriptions increased (51.0% to 64.5%, P < 0.0001), stroke rates tended to decrease (3.8% to 3.5%, P = 0.148). Bleeding complications increased mostly because of emergency room visits (4.8% to 6.1%, P = 0.007). Mortality remained high despite a small but statistically significant decline (27.6% to 25.8%, P = 0.018)., Conclusions: With increased anticoagulation use, stroke rates are declining and emergency room bleeding complications are increasing. Despite an increased use of evidence-based AF therapies, mortality remains high in this population. These findings highlight the need to focus on AF prevention in addition to minimizing its complications., (Copyright © 2013 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. All rights reserved.)

Context: Stroke is a serious complication associated with atrial fibrillation (AF). Women with AF are at higher risk of stroke compared with men. Reasons for this higher stroke risk in women remain unclear, although some studies suggest that undertreatment with warfarin may be a cause., Objective: To compare utilization patterns of warfarin and the risk of subsequent stroke between older men and women with AF at the population level., Design, Setting, and Patients: Population-based cohort study of patients 65 years or older admitted to the hospital with recently diagnosed AF in the province of Quebec, Canada, 1998-2007, using administrative data with linkage between hospital discharge, physicians, and prescription drug claims databases., Main Outcome Measures: Risk of stroke., Results: The cohort comprised 39,398 men (47.2%) and 44,115 women (52.8%). At admission, women were older and had a higher CHADS(2) (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 years, diabetes mellitus, prior stroke or transient ischemic attack) score than men (1.99 [SD, 1.10] vs 1.74 [SD, 1.13], P < .001). At 30 days postdischarge, 58.2% of men and 60.6% of women had filled a warfarin prescription. In adjusted analysis, women appeared to fill more warfarin prescriptions compared with men (odds ratio, 1.07 [95% CI, 1.04-1.11]; P < .001). Adherence to warfarin treatment was good in both sexes. Crude stroke incidence was 2.02 per 100 person-years (95% CI, 1.95-2.10) in women vs 1.61 per 100 person-years (95% CI, 1.54-1.69) in men (P < .001). The sex difference was mainly driven by the population of patients 75 years or older. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, women had a higher risk of stroke than men (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.14 [95% CI, 1.07-1.22]; P < .001), even after adjusting for baseline comorbid conditions, individual components of the CHADS(2) score, and warfarin treatment., Conclusion: Among older patients admitted with recently diagnosed AF, the risk of stroke was greater in women than in men, regardless of warfarin use.