Management of Antithrombotic Therapy in Patients With Coexisting Atrial Fibrillation and Coronary Artery Disease Who Underwent Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Within the Last Year

Background

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a common comorbidity in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), and optimal antithrombotic medication improves clinical outcomes in this high-risk population. The aim of our study was to describe antithrombotic drug regimens in different patient cohorts.

Methods

We investigated data from the prospective Helios Heart registry (H2) and the Heart Center Leipzig routine clinical database (HZL). We included inpatient cases with AF and CAD (hospitalized from March 2021 to July 2024 [H2] or January 2017 to December 2021 [HZL]), who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within the last 12 months. Information on clinical characteristics, coronary interventions, and medication prescribed was obtained from electronic case report forms and/or administrative data based on ICD-10, OPS, and ATC codes.

Results

We included 3481 (HZL), and 205 (H2) index cases with comparable baseline characteristics. Overall, 92.5% (HZL) and 87.6% (H2) of patients were on any anticoagulation, and 93.0% (HZL) and 80.2% (H2) were prescribed ≥ 1 antiplatelet agent. There were relevant differences in antithrombotic therapy when stratifying for PCI timing. Factors associated with higher (older age) or lower (comorbidity burden, antiplatelet treatment, prior left atrial appendage occlusion) prescription rates of OAC were identified. OAC therapy without adjunctive antiplatelet therapy was associated with an increased rate of rehospitalization for major adverse cardiovascular events at 12 months (HZL).

Conclusion

We presented current data on antithrombotic drug utilization in patients with AF and CAD and found comorbidity burden, concomitant antiplatelet treatment and other factors to be associated with lower anticoagulant prescription rates.