AimsTo assess the impact of anticoagulant treatment on risk for stroke and all-cause mortality of patients with atrial fibrillation using real-world data (RWD).MethodsPatients with prevalent or incident atrial fibrillation were selected throughout a study period of 5 years. Stroke, transitory ischemic attack, hemorrhagic stroke, and all-cause mortality were identified in the claims of the electronic health records (EHRs). Subjects were classified according to the anticoagulant treatment in four groups: untreated, vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), New Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs), and antiplatelet (AP). Risk of events and protection with anticoagulant therapy were calculated by Cox proportional hazard models adjusted by potential confounders.ResultsFrom a total population of 3,799,884 patients older than 18,123,227 patients with incident or prevalent atrial fibrillation (AF) were identified (mean age 75.2 ± 11.5 years old; 51.9% women). In a follow-up average of 3.2 years, 17,113 patients suffered from an ischemic stroke and transitory ischemic attack (TIA), 780 hemorrhagic stroke, and 42,558 all-cause death (incidence of 46, 8, 2, and 120 per 1,000 patients/year, respectively). Among CHA2DS2, VASc Score equal or >2, 11.7% of patients did not receive any anticoagulant therapy, and a large proportion of patients, 47%, shifted from one treatment to another. Although all kinds of anticoagulant treatments were significantly protective against the events and mortality, NOAC treatment offered significantly better protection compared to the other groups.ConclusionIn the real world, the use of anticoagulant treatments is far from guidelines recommendations and is characterized by variability in their use. NOACs offered better protection compared with VKAs.

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AimsThe objective of the present study is to assess the bidirectional association between heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) using real-world data. Methods and resultsFrom an electronic health recording with a population of 3 799 885 adult subjects, those with prevalent or incident HF were selected and followed throughout a study period of 5 years. Prevalence and incidence of AF, and their impact in the risk for acute HF hospitalization, worsening renal function, ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke, and all-cause mortality were identified. We analysed all incident and prevalent patients with HF and AF, 128 086 patients (S1), and subsequently analysed a subset of patients with incident HF and AF, 57 354 patients (S2). We analysed all incident and prevalent patients with HF and AF, 128 086 patients (S1), and subsequently a subset of patients with incident HF and AF, 57 354 patients (S2). The prevalence of AF was 59 906 (46.7%) of the HF patients, while incidence in the S2 was 231/1000 patients/year. In both cohorts, S1 and S2, AF significantly increases the risk of acute heart failure hospitalization [incidence 79.1/1000 and 97.5/1000 patients/year; HR 1.53 (1.48-1.59 95% CI) and HR 1.32 (1.24-1.41 95% CI), respectively], risk of decreased renal function (eGFR reduced by >20%) [66.2/1000 and 94.0/1000 patients/year; HR 1.13 (1.09-1.18 95% CI) and HR 1.22 (1.14-1.31 95% CI), respectively] and all-cause mortality [203/1000 and 294/1000 patients/year; HR 1.62 (1.58-1.65 95% CI) and HR 1.65 (1.59-1.70 95% CI), respectively]. The number of episodes of hospitalization for acute heart failure was also significantly higher in the AF patients (27 623 vs. 10 036, P < 0.001). However, the risk for ischaemic stroke was reduced in the AF subjects [HR 0.66 (0.63-0.74 95% CI)], probably due to the anticoagulant treatment. Conclusions AF is associated with an increment in the risk of episodes of acute heart failure as well as decline of renal function and increment of all-cause mortality.