Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Trends in treatment and outcomes of atrial fibrillation during 2007–17 in Finland
Authors' conclusion
Stroke prevention with OACs in patients with incident AF improved considerably from 2007 to 2017 in Finland. This development was accompanied by decreasing 1-year mortality and the reduction of the ischaemic stroke rate by more than half, particularly among elderly patients, whereas there was only slight increase in severe bleeding events.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with incident atrial fibrillation (AF) in Finland, all levels of care (FinACAF cohort), 2007–2017mean age 72.6 years
- Participants
- 206,909 patients
- Exposure
- Trends 2007 vs 2017
- Outcome
- Proportion treated with OAC or rhythm control, ischaemic stroke, bleeding requiring hospitalization, or death
- Follow-up
- 1-year after AF diagnosis
Methodological detailsregistry-based, nationwide
- Registry-based
- Nationwide
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Trends 2007–2017 in OAC use, 1-year mortality and ischaemic stroke after incident AF
OAC use increased during the study period
43.6 to 76.3%
1-year mortality decreased
13.3 to 10.6%
Ischaemic stroke rate decreased
5.3 to 2.2%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
OAC use by stroke risk (subgroup)
- Increase most evident in patients with at least moderate stroke risk
Prognosis by age (subgroup)
- Prognosis especially improved in patients over 75 years
Safety
- Small increase in major bleeding events
Original publication
Trends in treatment and outcomes of atrial fibrillation during 2007–17 in Finland. Eur Heart J Qual Care Clin Outcomes. Published 20 December 2022. doi:10.
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