Risk stratification schemes, anticoagulation use and outcomes: the risk-treatment paradox in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation

摘要

Objective To examine whether warfarin use and outcomes differ across CHADS_2 and CHA_2DS_2-VASc risk strata for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Design Population-based cohort study using linked administrative databases in Alberta, Canada. Setting Inpatient and outpatient. Patients 42 834 consecutive patients ≥ 20 years of age with newly diagnosed NVAF. Main outcome measures Cerebrovascular events and/ or mortality in the first year after diagnosis. Results Of 42 834 NVAF patients, 22.7% were low risk on the CHADS_2 risk score (0), 27.5% were intermediate risk (1), and 49.8% were high risk (≥2). The CHA_2DS_2-VASc risk score reclassified 16 722 patients such that 7.8% were defined low risk, 13.8% intermediate risk and 78.4% high risk. Of the elderly cohort (≥65 years) with definite NVAF visits (at least two encounters 30 days apart, n=8780), 49% were taking warfarin within 90 days of diagnosis. Warfarin use did not differ across risk strata using either the CHADS_2 (p for trend=0.85) or CHA_2DS_2-VASC (p=0.35). In multivariable adjusted analyses, warfarin use was associated with substantially lower rates of death or cerebrovascular events for patients with CHADS_2 scores of 1 (OR 0.52, 95% Cl 0.41 to 0.67) or ≥2 (OR 0.61, 95% Cl 0.53 to 0.71), or CHA_2DS_2-VASc scores of ≥2 (OR 0.60, 95% Cl 0.53 to 0.68). Conclusions In elderly patients with NVAF and elevated CHADS_2 or CHA_2DS_2-VASC scores, warfarin users exhibited lower rates of cerebrovascular events and mortality. However, warfarin use did not differ across risk strata, another example of the risk-treatment paradox in cardiovascular disease.