Anticoagulant Therapy In Patients Research Articles

No VTE Recurrence After 1-Year Follow-Up of Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19 and a VTE Event: A Prospective Study

No VTE Recurrence After 1-Year Follow-Up of Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19 and a VTE Event: A Prospective Study

Additional Effects of Antiplatelet Therapy on Anticoagulant Agents in Patients With Bioprosthetic Valves and Atrial Fibrillation.

The additional effects of single-antiplatelet therapy (SAPT) on anticoagulant therapy are still unclear in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) after bioprosthetic valve replacement.Methods and Results:We conducted a subanalysis of a multicenter, retrospective, observational registry of patients with bioprosthetic valves and AF in Japan. Patients administered anticoagulants alone comprised the ACA group (n=107), and patients given concomitant SAPT and anticoagulant therapy comprised the On SAPT group (n=82). The primary efficacy endpoint was the incidence of stroke/systemic embolism, and the primary safety endpoint was the incidence of major bleeding. The observation period was 46.3±24.6 months. The primary efficacy endpoint occurred in 12 patients, and the cumulative incidence of primary efficacy events was significantly higher in the ACA group compared with the On SAPT group (P=0.039). The primary safety endpoint occurred in 22 patients, and the cumulative incidence of primary safety events was similar between groups (P=0.66). No differences between the groups were observed for cardiac events. Additional SAPT on anticoagulant therapy in patients with bioprosthetic valves and AF was associated with a reduction in stroke/systemic embolic events, although the cumulative incidence of bleeding was similar, regardless of additional SAPT. These findings suggest that additional SAPT on anticoagulant therapy may be safe and effective in real-world clinical settings.

Use of Anticoagulant Therapy in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction and Atrial Fibrillation.

The incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) ranges from 2.3–23%. This difference in the incidence of AF is explained by the different ages of the patients in different studies and the different times of application of both reperfusion and drug therapies in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). About 6–8% of patients who underwent percutaneous intervention within AMI have an indication for oral anticoagulant therapy with vitamin K antagonists or new oral anticoagulants (NOAC).The use of oral anticoagulant therapy should be consistent with individual risk of bleeding as well as ischemic risk. Both HAS-BLED and CHA2DS2VASc scores are most commonly used for risk assessment. Except in patients with mechanical valves and antiphospholipid syndrome, NOACs have an advantage over vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). One of the advantages of NOACs is the use of fixed doses, where there is no need for successive INR controls, which increases the patient’s compliance in taking these drugs. The use of triple therapy in ACS is indicated in the case of patients with AF, mechanical valves as well as venous thromboembolism. The results of the studies showed that when choosing a P2Y12 receptor blocker, less potent P2Y12 blockers such as Clopidogrel should be chosen, due to the lower risk of bleeding. It has been proven that the presence of AF within AMI is associated with a higher degree of reinfarction, more frequent stroke, high incidence of heart failure, and there is a correlation with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. With the appearance of AF in ACS, its rapid conversion into sinus rhythm is necessary, and in the last resort, good control of heart rate in order to avoid the occurrence of adverse clinical events.

Early detection of cancer after bleeding during oral anticoagulant therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation: a new perspective

Antithrombotic therapy, in particular oral anticoagulation, is associated with an increased risk of bleeding. During anticoagulant treatment bleedings may also be caused by occult cancer, allowing its early diagnosis. The use of direct oral anticoagulants is associated with a lower risk of bleeding compared to vitamin K antagonists, but in the presence of a cancer lesion the risk of bleeding is not inferior. Atrial fibrillation patients with gastrointestinal bleeding during warfarin therapy are 6 times more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than patients without bleeding. In patients with hematuria, the probability of cancer is almost triple if treated with warfarin. With all the four direct oral anticoagulants newly colon cancer diagnoses have been reported in association with bleedings in phase III randomized clinical trials. In the real world, a 4.5% incidence of newly diagnosed cancer has been reported, mainly in the early stage and preceded by a bleeding event. Gastrointestinal bleeding is associated with a 13 times higher risk of newly diagnosed gastrointestinal cancer, genitourinary bleeding with a 18 times higher risk of newly diagnosed genitourinary cancer, and bronchopulmonary bleeding with a 15 times higher risk of newly diagnosed lung cancer. In the presence of bleeding during oral anticoagulant therapy, a diagnostic screening is warranted in order to detect occult cancer. An adverse event such as bleeding can become a favorable opportunity.

Abstract TMP74: Direct Oral Anticoagulants Vs. Vitamin K Antagonists In Patients With Cerebral Venous Thrombosis: A Systematic Review And Meta-analysis

Introduction: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have emerged as a potential anticoagulant therapy for patients with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing DOACs versus vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for treatment of CVT. Methods: We registered the review in PROSPERO (registration number CRD42021228800). We searched Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and the Web of Science Core Collection from January 1, 2007, to May 26, 2021. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized comparative studies (NRCSs) evaluating key outcomes for efficacy (recurrent venous thromboembolism [VTE] and complete recanalization) and safety (major hemorrhage). We assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2.0 (for RCTs) and the ROBINS-I tool (for NRCSs). Where studies were sufficiently similar, we performed meta-analyses using random-effects models. This review was funded by Brown Neurology. Results: Of 8213 identified records,10 studies (1 RCT and 9 NRCSs) with a total of 662 patients (33% DOAC and 67% VKAs) met the inclusion criteria. We will present our risk of bias assessment at the conference. DOACs and VKAs had comparable efficacy: recurrent VTE (risk ratio [RR] 1.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.44-2.23; I 2 =0%; 10 studies) and complete recanalization (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.77-1.28; I 2 =0%; 6 studies). DOAC and VKA also had comparable safety: major hemorrhage (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.37-2.14; I 2 =0%; 9 studies). Conclusions: Studies comparing DOACs with VKAs in patients with CVT consist mostly of small, non-randomized, poorly controlled studies. While the two treatments appear comparable for major efficacy and safety outcomes, large, rigorously conducted studies, preferably randomized, are needed to overcome these limitations and permit development of clinical practice guidelines for the use of DOACs in patients with CVT.

Latest outcomes of transcatheter left atrial appendage closure devices and direct oral anticoagulant therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation over the past 5 years: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) are emerging treatment for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, data on the safety, efficacy, and medications for LAAC devices in patients with AF are lacking. We aimed to investigate the incidence of all-cause mortality, stroke, and major bleeding in AF patients with LAAC devices and DOACs. Moreover, we aimed to investigate the incidence rate of device-related thrombus (DRT) and the medications used in the management of AF patients with LAAC devices to gain insights into achieving better outcome. Based on a literature search using PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases between January 2015 and December 2020, eight LAAC device studies that used WATCHMAN and Amulet, and three DOAC studies that used rivaroxaban, with a total of 24,055 AF patients (LAAC devices, n = 2855; DOAC, n = 21,200), were included. A random-effects model was used to incorporate heterogeneity among studies. The pooled incidence of events per person-years were as follows: all-cause mortality, 0.06 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.02–0.10) for WATCHMAN, 0.04 (95% CI 0.00–0.14) for Amulet, and 0.03 (95% CI 0.01–0.04) for rivaroxaban; stroke; 0.02 (95% CI 0.00–0.04) for WATCHMAN, 0 for Amulet, and 0.01 (95% CI 0.01–0.02) for rivaroxaban; major bleeding, 0.04 (95% CI 0.02–0.06) for WATCHMAN, 0.02 (95% CI 0.00–0.06) for Amulet, and 0.02 (95% CI 0.01–0.03) for rivaroxaban. The incidence rate of DRT was 2.3%, and complications were reported in 9%. The incidence of all-cause mortality, stroke, and major bleeding were similar between LAAC devices and DOACs. The rate of complications was acceptable, and those of DRT were lower than the average incidence reported in previous studies. However, further follow-up is needed. Concomitant anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapies should be further evaluated to find the optimal regimen for AF patients with LAAC devices.

Aspects of antithrombotic and anticoagulant therapies in patients undergoing endovascular procedures for lower extremity arterial disease.

Összefoglaló. A népesség öregedése, a meghatározó cardiovascularis rizikótényezők - mint a cukorbetegség - egyre nagyobb arányú előfordulása, a csökkenő akut cardiovascularis halálozás az alsó végtagi verőérszűkület növekvő megjelenésével jár. Ezzel együtt szaporodnak a beavatkozást igénylő, jelentős életminőség-romlást, illetve végtag-veszélyeztetettséget okozó, súlyosabb esetek. Ilyenkor az alsó végtagi revascularisatio szüksége merül fel, ami az utóbbi évtizedben az endovascularis beavatkozások számának növekedéséhez vezetett. A beavatkozások technikai sikere mellett újabb szűkületek, elzáródások veszélyével kell számolni. Ennek hátterében az atherosclerosis progressziója mellett a beavatkozáshoz köthető, kontrollált érfalsérülés indukálta vascularis remodelling (neointima-hyperplasia), valamint thromboticus tényezők állnak. Az ér-nyitvamaradás hosszú távú biztosításának feltétele a fenti folyamatok megelőzésére alkalmazott optimális gyógyszeres kezelés. Ennek biztosítása elengedhetetlen a beavatkozást megelőzően, periprocedurálisan, majd az érintett betegkör hosszú távú gondozása során. A gyógyszeres terápiás lehetőségek közül az antithromboticus, antikoaguláns terápiának kiemelt jelentősége van. Az ezen hatású gyógyszerek alkalmazását igen nehézzé teszi (i) a thromboticus elzáródás kiújulása és a potenciális vérzés közötti dinamikusan változó egyensúly bizonytalansága, (ii) az egyéb társbetegségek kapcsán felmerülő terápiás szempontok egyidejű érvényesítése, valamint (iii) a napi ellátásban támpontot adó tudományos bizonyítékok relatív hiánya. Az összefoglaló tanulmány a fenti gyógyszerterápiás terület legújabb eredményeit kísérli meg elemezni. Orv Hetil. 2022; 163(3): 98-108. Summary. The aging of the population, the increasing prevalence of important risk factors of atherosclerosis, like diabetes, and the declining mortality of acute cardiovascular conditions lead to increased peripheral arterial disease incidence. At the same time, cases showing a severe decline in quality of life or danger of limb loss get more prevalent that demands vascular interventions. In such cases, revascularization is recommended, and consequently, in the last decade, an expansion in endovascular procedures can be seen. Considering these procedures, besides a technical success, the risk of new stenosis or occlusion may be imminent. This may be accounted for the progression of atherosclerosis and the controlled vascular injury caused by the procedure itself that induces vascular remodeling (neointima hyperplasia) and thrombotic hyperactivity. The long-term vascular patency is closely associated with the success of an optimal medical treatment strategy. Its effect is considered essential prior to the endovascular procedure, perioperatively, and in the phase of long-term follow-up of the affected patients. In this scenario, antithrombotic and anticoagulant therapy regimes bear particular relevance. The use of this kind of drugs is challenged by (i) the uncertainty of dynamic changes of balance between the thrombotic reocclusion and the risk of bleeding, (ii) the interplay of treatment strategy related to concomitant diseases, (iii) the relative lack of high-level scientific pieces of evidence guiding daily routine. The narrative review makes an effort to provide new findings and an analysis of this therapeutic field. Orv Hetil. 2022; 163(3): 98-108.

How to level the risk of bleeding while taking anticoagulant therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common types of cardiac arrhythmias, while AF is the main risk factor for ischemic stroke. For a long time, vitamin K antagonists, primarily warfarin, have been the standard for the prevention of thromboembolic complications in patients with AF. 5 years ago, dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban occupied the 2nd place in the structure of anticoagulant prescribing (AC), giving way to warfarin. The well-known reason for the inadequate use of AC is the risk of bleeding. There are a large number of validated scales for assessing the risk of hemorrhagic complications, in particular HAS-BLED, ABC, HEMORRHR2HAGES, ATRIA, ORBIT, but the estimated high risk of bleeding should not be the only and absolute limitation to the appointment of AC. Despite the real risk of bleeding on the background of taking AC in patients with AF, an integrated approach taking into account not only the risk factors of the thromboembolic complications, but also hemorrhagic complications, with an emphasis on the existing comorbidities, the presence of comorbidity, old age, etc., will allow an individual approach to the choice of AC and its dose, contributing to the optimization of the management of such kind of patients.

Подбор антикоагулянтной терапии пациентам с циррозом печени

Patients with liver diseases have a higher risk of hemostatic disorders. Meanwhile, despite a well-established opinion on a low risk of thromboses in cirrhosis, thromboembolic events cannot be totally ruled out in these patients. Increased risks of thrombotic events and venous thromboembolism in cirrhosis are accounted for by external (immobilization, surgeries, infections, comorbidities) and internal factors (reduced synthesis of anticoagulants, increased levels of estrogens). Practically, the selection of anticoagulant therapy in cirrhosis is difficult because of divergent hemostatic disorders and requires continuous and careful monitoring of hemostasis. In 2019, the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) released guidelines on anticoagulant therapy in patients with cirrhosis and pulmonary embolism. We describe a patient with cirrhosis and pulmonary embolism. A management strategy was tailored to the AGA guidelines, the Russian Society on Liver Research guidelines, and the Russian Gastroenterological Association on Fibrosis and Cirrhosis and Complication Diagnosis and Treatment guidelines. This example of successful selection of anticoagulant therapy, multidisciplinary approach, and dynamic evaluation of all available methods of hemostasis control will be useful for practitioners. KEYWORDS: cirrhosis, hemostasis, thrombosis, hemorrhage, venous thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism, thromboelastometry, anticoagulant, low-molecular-weight heparin. FOR CITATION: Arykan N.G., Shestopalov A.E., Khvorostinina E.E. et al. Selecting anticoagulant therapy in patients with cirrhosis. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2022;6(5):286–292 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2022-6-5-286-292.

The Efficacy and Safety of Anticoagulants in the Treatment of Cirrhotic Portal Vein Thrombosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of anticoagulant therapy in patients with cirrhotic PVT, and compare differences in efficacy and safety among different anticoagulants.MethodsWe comprehensively searched Pubmed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to April 2022 for studies using anticoagulants for cirrhotic PVT. Meta-analysis was performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).Results3 RCTs and 14 cohort studies involving 1270 patients were included. Anticoagulant therapy can increase the recanalization rate compared with non-anticoagulation therapy (OR 4.44, 95% CI 3.11-6.32, I2 = 2.5%) and can decrease the extension rate of cirrhotic PVT (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.18-0.62, I2 = 41.0%), without increasing the incidence of total bleeding (OR 1.21, 95% CI 0.75-1.97, I2 = 9.8%), major bleeding (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.49-1.95, I2 = 19.7%), and variceal bleeding (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.12-1.01, I2 = 39.9%). Subgroup analysis showed that VKA, LMWH, and DOACs could increase the recanalization rate of PVT and were not associated with the risk of bleeding. Studies that compared direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) with warfarin directly showed that the recanalization rate of PVT in the DOACs group might be higher than that in the warfarin group (OR 30.99, 95% CI 7.39-129.87, I2 = 0.0%), and there was no difference in the rate of total bleeding (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.01-8.65, I2 = 79.6%).ConclusionsAnticoagulants are safe and effective in patients with cirrhotic PVT. The rate of PVT recanalization associated with DOACs may be higher than warfarin.

Main characteristics of oral anticoagulant therapy in patients with ischemic heart disease

Main characteristics of oral anticoagulant therapy in patients with ischemic heart disease

The Impact of Anticoagulant Therapy in Patients with Hemorrhagic Stroke: A Retrospective Observational Study from eICU Database

The Impact of Anticoagulant Therapy in Patients with Hemorrhagic Stroke: A Retrospective Observational Study from eICU Database

Correction of Anticoagulant Therapy in Patients with Severe COVID-19 Virus Infection Using a Thrombodynamics Coagulation Assay.

The average frequency of thrombosis in patients with COVID-19 is still high despite low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) prophylactic. Global hemostasis assays, particularly thrombodynamics (TD), known to be sensitive to both hypercoagulation and heparin effects, could potentially be useful for individual management of anticoagulant therapy. A total of 74 patients with lung involvement >50% were randomized into two groups: Group A (44 patients) received weight-based dosing of LMWH, and Group B (30 patients) received the first LMWH dose by a weight-based dosing protocol and then received an adjusted dose based on TD daily results. The endpoints of the study were thrombosis and bleeding as well as discharge or death of the patient. The incidence of thrombosis was 3 times lower in Group B under TD control compared to Group A without TD control: 7% versus 23 respectively (p = .05). The relative risk of thrombosis if the average clot growth rate V in TD exceeded the threshold value of 25 μm/min was 14.3 (p = .0005, 95% confidence interval 3.2-63.7). There were no clinically significant bleeding episodes in Group B while there were 7% in unregulated Group A. Mortality in Group B under TD control was lower than that in Group A without control: 27% versus 36%, respectively (p = .13). The dosing LMWH under thrombodynamics control in severe patients with COVID-19 allows for a significant reduction in thrombotic complications. Long-term hypercoagulation revealed by thrombodynamics (3 and more days) is a strong predictor of thrombosis (AUC = 0.83).

Direktni oralni antikoagulansi i periferna arterijska bolest

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a disease of the arteries of the lower extremities and represents a global health problem with an increasing prevalence rate. Evidence for the use of standard anticoagulant therapy in patients with PAB is limited. Direct oral anticoagulants are selective inhibitors of activated coagulation factor X and thrombin, thereby blocking the common pathway of the coagulation cascade and preventing fibrin formation. In addition to their procoagulant role, these drugs potentially participate in the regulation of the process of inflammation and tissue fibrosis, which may inhibit the progression of atherosclerotic plaque. The first large study examining the effects of DOAC in patients with atherosclerosis was COMPASS (Cardiovascular Outcomes for People Using Anticoagulation Strategies). This study showed the first encouraging results, although the design was not adapted exclusively to patients with PAD. The VOYAGER PAD (Vascular Outcomes of ASA Along with Rivaroxaban in Endovascular or Surgical Limb Revascularization for PAD) study laid the groundwork for the use of low doses of direct oral anticoagulants in patients with PAB after revascularization. The applicability of the results of the COMPASS and VOYAGER PAD studies in everyday practice is still questionable. There is clear evidence that the use of direct oral anticoagulants in patients with the peripheral arterial disease may play an important role in the secondary prevention of adverse cardiovascular events, with an acceptable risk of hemorrhagic complications. Additional studies are needed to clarify which groups of patients these drugs have the greatest effect on, in everyday practice.

Informing the Choice of Direct Oral Anticoagulant Therapy in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Informing the Choice of Direct Oral Anticoagulant Therapy in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Treatment strategies for patients with atrial fibrillation and chronic heart failure

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and may lead to the development of chronic heart failure (CHF). Each condition predisposes to the other, requiring a careful choice of the treatment strategy. This article is devoted to the prevalence and prognostic implications of both diseases. The article presents data from meta-analyzes related to the management of this group of patients. The aspects of rhythm control strategy in AF and concomitant CHF are described according to the recent studies and clinical guidelines. The features of anticoagulant therapy in patients with AF and CHF are outlined. Much attention is given to the importance of the safety profile of the anticoagulant therapy in terms of the bleeding risk in patients with concomitant AF and CHF.

Stroke of antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy in patients with coronary artery disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BackgroundWe performed a meta-analysis sought to investigate the risk of stroke with antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapies among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).MethodsWe searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials from January 1995 to March 2020. Studies were retrieved if they reported data of stroke for patients with CAD and were randomized to receive intensive versus conservative antithrombotic therapies, including antiplatelet and oral anticoagulant (OAC). Analyses were pooled by random-effects modeling. A total of 42 studies with 301,547subjects were enrolled in this analysis.ResultsIntensive antithrombotic therapy significantly reduced risk of all stroke (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.80–0.94) and ischemic stroke (RR 0.80, 95% CI 0.71–0.91), but increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke (RR 1.36, 95% CI 1.00–1.86) and intracranial hemorrhage (RR 1.46, 95% CI 1.17–1.81). Subgroup analyses indicated that OAC yields more benefit to all stroke than antiplatelet therapy (OAC: RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.58–0.92; Antiplatelet: RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.83–0.97; Between-group heterogeneity P value = 0.030). The benefit of antiplatelet therapy on all stroke and ischemic stroke were mainly driven by the studies comparing longer versus shorter duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (All stroke: RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.78–0.95; ischemic stroke: RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.75–0.94).ConclusionsAmong CAD patients who have already received antiplatelet therapy, either strengthening antiplatelet or anticoagulant treatments significantly reduced all stroke, mainly due to the reduction of ischemic stroke, although it increased the risk of hemorrhagic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage. OAC yields more benefit to all stroke than antiplatelet therapy.

Anticoagulant Therapy Is Associated With Decreased Long-Term Mortality in Splenic Infarction Patients: A Multicenter Study

Background: Patients with splenic infarction (SI) are associated with a prothrombotic state and are vulnerable to subsequent thromboembolic complications. However, due to its rarity, there is no established treatment modality in this population. We aimed to examine the effect of anticoagulant therapy in SI patients.Methods: We performed a multicenter retrospective cohort study of 86 SI patients. Patients were categorized as anticoagulant users and anticoagulant non-users. The associations between anticoagulant therapy, all-cause mortality, thromboembolic events and bleeding events were evaluated.Results: Forty-five patients (52.3%) received anticoagulant therapy during the follow-up periods. The all-cause mortality rate was 6.86 per 100 patient-years. Anticoagulant therapy was associated with 94% improved survival (HR = 0.06; Cl 0.007–0.48; p = 0.008), while the risk factors for all-cause mortality were prior stroke (HR = 13.15; Cl 2.39–72.27; p = 0.003) and liver cirrhosis (HR = 8.71; Cl 1.29–59.01; p = 0.027). Patients with anticoagulant therapy had a higher event-free survival curve for thromboembolic complications (p = 0.03) but did not achieve a significant difference after adjustment using the Cox regression model as a time-dependent covariate (HR = 0.57; Cl 0.13–2.45; p = 0.446). There was no significant difference in the risk of bleeding events between the groups (p = 0.728).Conclusions: Anticoagulant therapy in patients with SI was associated with better survival and was not related to an increased bleeding risk.

Anticoagulation after stroke: persistent uncertainties.

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) are the mainstay of anticoagulant therapy for stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Persistent uncertainties remain in different areas, and this review discusses current dilemmas based on selected studies. Optimal timing of DOAC initiation after a recent ischaemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation is currently unknown and subject of ongoing randomized controlled trials. Ischaemic stroke despite anticoagulant therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation is frequent, constitutes heterogeneous causes (competing stroke cause, medication error and cardioembolism despite anticoagulation) and optimal treatment is currently unknown. Thorough etiological work-up is justified. Recent randomized controlled trials found no beneficial effect of DOAC therapy in unselected patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS). Currently ongoing trials targeting subgroup of ESUS patients with additional atrial cardiopathy will provide novel data. Cerebral mircobleeds combined in a novel risk score (MICON score) provide good predictive value to stratify the risk of intracranial haemorrhage in patients taking anticoagulants. Use of DOAC after intracerebral haemorrhage in patients with atrial fibrillation is subject of ongoing trials. There are still significant uncertainties in anticoagulant management in patients with stroke. Ongoing trials will soon provide novel data to improve management of these patients.

Abstract 10464: Mental Health Conditions Are Associated with Underuse of Oral Anticoagulation Therapy in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: The FinACAF Study

Introduction: Little is known about the effects of mental health conditions (MHC) on the utilization of oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We assessed the hypothesis that MHCs are associated with a lower rate of OAC initiation in patients with incident AF. Methods: The FinACAF registry included all 239 756 patients with incident AF during 2007-2018 in Finland identified from national registries covering all levels of care as well as their drug purchases. The main exposure was any MHC (previous diagnosis of depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder or schizophrenia or fulfilled prescription of psychiatric medication within preceding year from first AF diagnosis) and the outcome OAC initiation (first fulfilled OAC prescription after AF diagnosis). Results: The patients’ mean age was 72.6 years (SD 13.2), 49.7% were female and 95.0% had CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score ≥1. The prevalence of any MHC was 19.9%. A lower rate of OAC initiation was observed in patients with any MCH than in those without MHC (64.9% vs. 73.1%, p<0.001) during the entire follow-up. Any MHC was associated with lower cumulative incidence of OAC initiation (adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio (aSHR) 0.783; 95% CI 0.774-0.794, Figure) during the entire follow-up, as were depression (aSHR 0.833; 95% CI 0.813-0.852), bipolar disorder (aSHR 0.807; 95% CI 0.778-0.838), anxiety disorder (aSHR 0.816; 95% CI 0.758-0.878) and schizophrenia (aSHR 0.743; 95% CI 0.698-0.792) individually. By 2018, 89.9% of OAC initiations were with a non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) in patients with any MHC and 92.4% in patients with no MHC. Any MHC remained associated with impaired cumulative incidence of OAC initiation also in the NOAC-era during 2015-2018 (aSHR 0.821; 95% CI 0.805-0.837). Conclusions: MHCs are common among AF patients, and they are associated with a lower rate of OAC initiation even during the NOAC-era.