Faculty Collaboration Database

Thromboprophylaxis for atrial arrhythmias in congenital heart disease: A multicenter study. Int J Cardiol 2016 Nov 15;223:729-735

Date

08/31/2016

Pubmed ID

27573597

DOI

10.1016/j.ijcard.2016.08.223

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84983685306 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   58 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of data to guide decisions regarding thromboprophylaxis for atrial arrhythmias in congenital heart disease.

METHODS: A retrospective multicenter cohort study enrolled patients with documented sustained atrial arrhythmias and congenital heart disease from 12 North American centers to quantify thromboembolic and bleeding rates associated with antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy, and explore associated factors. A blinded committee adjudicated all qualifying arrhythmias and outcomes.

RESULTS: A total of 482 patients, 45.2% female, age 32.0±18.0years, were followed for 11.3±9.4years since the qualifying arrhythmia. Antiplatelet therapy was administered to 37.8%, anticoagulation to 54.4%, and neither to 7.9%. Congenital heart disease complexity was simple, moderate, and severe in 18.5%, 34.4%, and 47.1%, respectively. Freedom from thromboembolic events was 84.7±2.7% at 15years, with no difference between anticoagulation versus antiplatelet therapy (P=0.97). Congenital heart disease complexity was independently associated with thromboembolic events, with rates of 0.00%, 0.93%, and 1.95%/year in those with simple, moderate, and severe forms (P<0.001). CHADS₂ and CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores were not predictive of thromboembolic risk. Annualized bleeding rates with antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy were 0.66% and 1.82% (P=0.039). In multivariable analyses, anticoagulation [hazard ratio (HR) 4.76, 95% CI (1.05-21.58), P=0.043] and HAS-BLED score [HR 3.15, 95% CI (1.02, 9.78), P=0.047] were independently associated with major bleeds.

CONCLUSION: Current management of atrial arrhythmias in congenital heart disease is associated with a modest rate of thromboembolic events, which is predicted by disease complexity but not CHADS₂/CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores. HAS-BLED score is applicable to the congenital population in predicting major bleeds.

Author List

Khairy P, Aboulhosn J, Broberg CS, Cohen S, Cook S, Dore A, Fernandes SM, Fournier A, Kay J, Levesque S, Macle L, Marcotte F, Mondésert B, Mongeon FP, Opotowsky AR, Proietti A, Rivard L, Ting J, Thibault B, Zaidi A, Hamilton R, Anticoagulation Therapy in Congenital Heart Disease (TACTIC) investigators and the Alliance for Adult Research in Congenital Cardiology (AARCC)

Author

Scott B. Cohen MD Associate Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Anticoagulants
Atrial Fibrillation
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Forecasting
Heart Defects, Congenital
Humans
Incidence
Male
Middle Aged
Retrospective Studies
Risk Assessment
Thromboembolism
Treatment Outcome
United States
Young Adult