Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
Compliance to direct oral anticoagulation therapy and clinical outcomes after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: a nationwide cohort study
- Nationwide cohort study
- registry-based
Authors' conclusion
While adherence to DOAC therapy was acceptable in patients with CHA2DS2-VA≥2, persistence declined over time and more than 20% were non-persistent by 3 years.
Study context
- Population
- Danish patients undergoing first-time catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF), 2017–202432.1% female
- Participants
- 13,438 patients
- Outcome
- Adherence (PDC ≥80%) and persistence (20% grace period) to direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) therapy
- Follow-up
- 1, 2 and 3 years after first-time catheter ablation
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
DOAC adherence and persistence, CHA2DS2-VA ≥2 · 3 years post-ablation
| Group | Adherence (proportion of days covered (PDC) ≥80%) | Persistence |
|---|---|---|
| CHA2DS2-VA ≥2 | 87.6% (95% CI: 86.8-88.4) | 73.0% (95% CI: 71.6-74.4%) |
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Adherence with PDC ≥90% threshold (sensitivity analysis) · 3 years post-ablation
- Proportion adherent, PDC ≥90%
- 78.8% (95% CI: 77.8-79.8%)
- sensitivity analysis
Combined ischaemic stroke, TIA and systemic embolism
- Total incidence rate
- 6.6 per 1000 person-years (95% CI: 5.8-7.4)
Safety
Major bleeding (combined cohort)
- Incidence
- 7.1 per 1000 person-years (95% CI: 6.3-8.0)
Original publication
Compliance to direct oral anticoagulation therapy and clinical outcomes after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: a nationwide cohort study. Europace. Published 30 June 2026. doi:10.1093/europace/euag151
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it