P6248High use of direct oral anticoagulants in elderly patients with non valvular atrial fibrillation: results of REFLEJA study

Abstract

Background Older patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) have a higher thromboembolic and hemorrhagic risk, however oral anticoagulation (OAC) continues to be underutilized. Purpose To analyze the use of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) in patients older than 80 years. Methods The REFLEJA study is a single-centre prospective observational registry including 1039 consecutive outpatients with nonvalvular AF. Results Among ≥80 years patients (n=376) there were more women (57.7% vs 41.5%; p<0.001), permanent AF (66.5 vs 42%; <0.001), heart failure (HF) (29.8 vs 20.2%, p<0.001) and vascular disease (19.7 vs 12.8%, p=0.003), although without differences in bleeding (5.9 vs 3,8%, p=0.12) and previous strokes (9.3 vs 7.1%, p=0.20). Despite a higher CHA2DS2-VASc score (4.4±1.1 VS 2.9±1.6, p<0.001), HASBLED score >2 (34.6 vs. 23.7%; p<0.001) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) (51.5 vs. 22.6%, p<0.001), total use of OAC was higher among those older (94.9% vs 90%, p=0.005). There were no differences in the prescription of DOAC (64.1% vs 69.3%, p=0.08), although lower doses (45.8 vs. 12.2%, p<0.005) were more frecuent among older patients. In multivariate analysis, HF (OR 0.60, CI 0.40–0.90; p=0.013) and CKD (OR 0.55, CI 0.41–0.76; p<0.001) were independent risk factors for the prescription of DOAC, but not age ≥80 years (OR 1.16, CI 0.58–2.31, P=0.67). Baseline characteristics Total <80 years ≥80 years p value Hypertension (%) 81.5 77.9 88 <0.001 Diabetes mellitus (%) 26.3 25.7 26.7 0.71 Malignancy (%) 6.6 6.5 6.9 0.78 Coronary artery disease (%) 12.1 10.8 14.4 0.08 Anemia (%) 16.3 12.5 23.2 <0.001 DOAC (%) 67.6 69.3 64.1 0.08 Low doses DOAC (%) 15.9 12.2 45.8 <0.001 CHA2DS2-VASc score 3.4±1.6 2.9±1.6 4.4±1.1 <0.001 HAS-BLED score 1.2±0.8 1.1±0.8 1.4±0.7 <0.001 Glomerular filtration rate (ml/min) 70.9±24.9 76.2±23.1 61.5±25 <0.001 Antiarrhythmic treatment (%) 7.3 9.6 3.1 0.005 Permanent AF 50.5 41.7 66.2 <0.001 DOAC: direct oral anticoagulants; HAS-BLED score: without INR lability; AF: atrial fibrillation. Conclusion The proportion of elderly anticoagulated patients in our environment is very high and advanced age was not associated with a lower use of DOAC.