Clinical characteristics, management and outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndrome and atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation is common in the setting of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) although its impact on ACS remains controversial. AIM To describe in-hospital management of patients with atrial fibrillation and ACS evaluating the impact of atrial fibrillation on in-hospital and mid-term outcome. METHODS We analysed the data of two prospective multicentre nationwide registries (IN-ACS Outcome and MANTRA) to assess clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients with ACS and atrial fibrillation. Study outcomes included death from any cause and a composite end-point of death/re-infarction/stroke/major bleeding within index admission and 6 months' follow-up. RESULTS Out of 12 288 ACS patients, 1236 (10.1%) had atrial fibrillation at admission or developed it during hospitalization. Atrial fibrillation patients were older, more often female, and had higher burden of comorbidities. In-hospital mortality was higher among atrial fibrillation patients (8.7 vs. 2.4%, P