Care Patterns and Outcomes in Atrial Fibrillation Patients With and Without Diabetes: ORBIT-AF Registry

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Endocrinology
• Public Health

Background:

• Diabetes mellitus is a known risk factor for thromboembolism in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).
• Limited data exist on how diabetes impacts outcomes specifically within the AF patient population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in symptoms, health status, care, and clinical outcomes between AF patients with and without diabetes.
• To assess the association between diabetes and adverse events in AF patients.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study utilizing data from 9,749 patients in the Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (ORBIT-AF) registry.
• Prospective, nationwide, outpatient registry data were analyzed for incident and prevalent AF cases.
• Outcomes assessed included symptoms, health status, AF treatment, and 2-year risks of death, hospitalization, thromboembolism, heart failure (HF), and AF progression.

Main Results:

• Patients with diabetes (29.5%) were younger and had higher rates of comorbidities like hypertension, CKD, HF, CHD, and stroke.
• Diabetic AF patients reported worse quality of life (lower AF Effects on Quality of Life score) and were more likely to receive anticoagulation.
• Diabetes was associated with increased overall and cardiovascular mortality risk, higher hospitalization rates (including CV and non-CV), but not increased risks of thromboembolic events, bleeding, new-onset HF, or AF progression.

Conclusions:

• In AF patients, diabetes is associated with poorer symptom burden and reduced quality of life.
• Diabetes confers an elevated risk for mortality and hospitalizations among individuals with AF.
• The study found no increased risk of thromboembolic or bleeding events in AF patients with diabetes.