Bleeding and ischaemic events after first bleed in anticoagulated atrial fibrillation patients: risk and timing

• Published in: European heart journal 2022-12, Vol.43 (47), p.4899-4908
• Main Authors: Meyre, Pascal B, Blum, Steffen, Hennings, Elisa, Aeschbacher, Stefanie, Reichlin, Tobias, Rodondi, Nicolas, Beer, Jürg H, Stauber, Annina, Müller, Andreas, Sinnecker, Tim, Moutzouri, Elisavet, Paladini, Rebecca E, Moschovitis, Giorgio, Conte, Giulio, Auricchio, Angelo, Ramadani, Alexandra, Schwenkglenks, Matthias, Bonati, Leo H, Kühne, Michael, Osswald, Stefan, Conen, David
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Anticoagulants - adverse effects; Atrial Fibrillation - complications; Atrial Fibrillation - drug therapy; Female; Hemorrhage - chemically induced; Hemorrhage - complications; Hemorrhage - epidemiology; Humans; Male; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Stroke - epidemiology; Stroke - etiology; Stroke - prevention & control
• ISSN: 0195-668X; 1522-9645
• DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehac587

To determine the risk of subsequent adverse clinical outcomes in anticoagulated patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who experienced a new bleeding event. Anticoagulated AF patients were followed in two prospective cohort studies. Information on incident bleeding was systematically collected during yearly follow-up visits and events were adjudicated as major bleeding or clinically relevant non-major bleeding (CRNMB) according to the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis guidelines. The primary outcome was a composite of stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), or all-cause death. Time-updated multivariable Cox proportional-hazards models were used to compare outcomes in patients with and without incident bleeding. Median follow-up was 4.08 years [interquartile range (IQR): 2.93-5.98]. Of the 3277 patients included (mean age 72 years, 28.5% women), 646 (19.7%) developed a new bleeding, 297 (9.1%) a major bleeding and 418 (12.8%) a CRNMB. The incidence of the primary outcome was 7.08 and 4.04 per 100 patient-years in patients with and without any bleeding [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.16-1.61; P < 0.001; median time between a new bleeding and a primary outcome 306 days (IQR: 23-832)]. Recurrent bleeding occurred in 126 patients [incidence, 8.65 per 100 patient-years (95% CI: 7.26-10.30)]. In patients with and without a major bleeding, the incidence of the primary outcome was 11.00 and 4.06 per 100 patient-years [aHR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.69-2.46; P < 0.001; median time to a primary outcome 142 days (IQR: 9-518)], and 59 had recurrent bleeding [11.61 per 100 patient-years (95% CI: 8.99-14.98)]. The incidence of the primary outcome was 5.29 and 4.55 in patients with and without CRNMB [aHR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.76-1.15; P = 0.53; median time to a composite outcome 505 days (IQR: 153-1079)], and 87 had recurrent bleeding [8.43 per 100 patient-years (95% CI: 6.83-10.40)]. Patients who had their oral anticoagulation (OAC) discontinued after their first bleeding episode had a higher incidence of the primary composite than those who continued OAC (63/89 vs. 159/557 patients; aHR: 4.46, 95% CI: 3.16-6.31; P < 0.001). In anticoagulated AF patients, major bleeding but not CRNMB was associated with a high risk of adverse outcomes, part of which may be explained by OAC discontinuation. Most events occurred late after the bleeding episode, emphasizing the importance of long-term follow-up in these patients.