Risk Profiles and Treatment Patterns in Atrial Fibrillation Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Receiving or not...

Background  Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at high risk for both thromboembolism and bleeding events. The latter induces a potential reason for withholding oral anticoagulation (OAC) despite an indication for prophylaxis of thromboembolic events. Methods  AF patients with CKD (estimated glomerular filtration [eGFR] rate between 15 and 49 mL/min per 1.73 m ² ) were included in a prospective international registry in Europe between 2016 and 2020, that is, XARENO (factor XA inhibition in renal patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation observational registry). The study enrolled adult patients treated at the discretion of physicians with rivaroxaban, vitamin K antagonists (VKA), or without OAC (w/oOAC). Here, we report a prespecified explorative baseline comparison between patients receiving OAC or no OAC within XARENO. Results  In total, 1,544 patients (mean age: 78.2 years, mean eGFR: 36.2 mL/min) were studied (rivaroxaban n  = 764, VKA n  = 691, w/oOAC n  = 89). Patients in the w/oOAC group were older and had a similar stroke (mean CHA ₂ DS ₂ -VASc score 4.0) but higher bleeding risk (mean modified Hypertension, Abnormal Renal/Liver Function, Stroke, Bleeding History or Predisposition, Labile INR, Elderly, Drugs/Alcohol Concomitantly score 2.5 vs. 1.8) compared with the OAC groups. The distribution of comorbidities including hypertension, diabetes, and heart failure was similar. Treatment with antiplatelet drugs was fivefold more frequent in the w/oOAC group. Conclusion  Only 5.8% of the overall population of AF patients with advanced CKD received no OAC. These patients were older and had a higher bleeding risk, which might explain this decision, but which contrasts with the more frequent use of antiplatelet drugs in this vulnerable group of patients.