Age-stratified profiles and outcomes of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

AIMS: This study aimed to elucidate age-stratified clinical profiles and outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF) with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (HFpEF). METHODS AND RESULTS: The Chronic Heart Failure Registry and Analysis in the Tohoku District-2 (CHART-2) Study included 2824 consecutive HFpEF patients with LVEF ≥ 50% (mean age 69.0 ± 12.3 years; 67.7% male) with a median follow-up of 9.8 years. We stratified them into five age groups: ≤54 (N = 349, 12.4%), 55-64 (N = 529, 18.7%), 65-74 (N = 891, 31.6%), 75-84 (N = 853, 30.2%), and ≥85 years (N = 202, 7.2%), and we categorized these age groups into younger (≤64 years) and older (≥65 years) groups. We compared the clinical profiles and outcomes of HFpEF patients across age groups. Younger HFpEF groups exhibited a male predominance, elevated body mass index (BMI), and poorly controlled diabetes (haemoglobin A1c > 7.0%). Older HFpEF groups were more likely to be female with multiple comorbidities, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, renal impairment, and atrial fibrillation. The positive association between elevated BMI and HFpEF was more pronounced with lower classes of age from ≥85 to ≤54 years, especially in males. With higher classes of age from ≤54 to ≥85 years, mortality rates increased, and HF death became proportionally more prevalent (Ptrend < 0.001), whereas sudden cardiac death (SCD) exhibited the opposite trend (Ptrend = 0.002). Poorly controlled diabetes emerged as the only predictor of SCD in the younger groups (adjusted hazard ratio 4.26; 95% confidence interval 1.45-12.5; P = 0.008). Multiple comorbidities were significantly associated with an increased risk of HF-related mortality in the older groups. CONCLUSIONS: Younger HFpEF patients (≤64 years) exhibit a male predominance, elevated BMI, and poorly controlled diabetes, highlighting the importance of glycaemic control in reducing SCD risk. Older HFpEF patients (≥65 years) are more likely to be female, with multiple comorbidities linked to an increased risk of HF-related mortality. These findings underscore the need for physicians to recognize age-related, distinct HFpEF phenotypes for personalized patient management.

Evaluating haemodynamic changes: vericiguat in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

AIMS: Vericiguat has been used to treat patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who demonstrated worsening heart failure despite treatment with other guideline-directed medical therapies. The haemodynamic effects of vericiguat remain unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study enrolled 12 patients (median age, 63 [quartiles 53.5, 70] years; 16.7%(N=2) women) with symptomatic HFrEF (New York Heart Association functional class II-IV) who demonstrated worsening heart failure despite treatment with the four foundational guideline-recommended therapies between March and December 2022, with follow-ups completed in June 2023. A balloon-tipped pulmonary artery thermodilution catheter was placed in the right internal jugular vein to perform right heart catheterisation (RHC) on day 1. Haemodynamic data were acquired before and after vericiguat intake (2.5 mg) on days 2 and 3. The data on days 2 and 3 were averaged. RHC was repeated on day 105 (37, 168). Oral intake of vericiguat 2.5 mg decreased mean pulmonary artery pressure (19.3 [14.3, 26.8] mmHg) and pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) (11 [7.5, 15] mmHg) before the intake to mean pulmonary artery pressure (17.5 [12.5, 24] mmHg) and PAWP (9.3 [6.8, 14] mmHg) at 30 min after (both P < 0.05). Reduction in PAWP was also found from 14.5 [9.5, 19.5] mmHg on day 1 to 9.5 [6.5, 12.5] mmHg on day 105 (37, 168) (P < 0.05), when vericiguat was titrated to 2.5 mg 25% (N = 3), 5 mg 50% (N = 6), and 10 mg 25% (N = 3). CONCLUSIONS: The consistent reduction in PAWP underscores the well-tolerated nature of vericiguat and its potential to enhance cardiac performance in patients with HFrEF.

Clinical utility of QRS duration normalized to left ventricular volume for predicting cardiac resynchronization therapy efficacy in patients with "mid-range" QRS duration.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is effective for patients with heart failure with QRS duration (QRSd) ≥150 ms. However, its beneficial effect seems to be limited for those with "mid-range" QRSd (120-149 ms). Recent studies have demonstrated that modifying QRSd to left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV)-modified QRSd-improves the prediction of clinical outcomes of CRT. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical impact of the modified QRSd on the efficacy of CRT in patients with "mid-range" QRSd. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, multicenter, observational study, with heart failure hospitalization (HFH) after CRT as the primary endpoint. Modified QRSd is defined as QRSd divided by LVEDV, determined through the Teichholtz method of echocardiography. RESULTS: Among the 506 consecutive patients considered, 119 (mean age 61 ± 15 years; 80% male, QRSd 135 ± 9 ms) with a "mid-range" QRSd who underwent de novo CRT device implantation were included for analysis. During median follow-up of 878 days [interquartile range 381-1663 days], HFH occurred in 45 patients (37%). Fine-Gray analysis revealed modified QRSd was an independent predictor of HFH (hazard ratio [HR] 0.97; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.96-0.99; P <.01). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed a cutoff value of 0.65 ms/mL for the modified QRSd in predicting HFH. Patients above the threshold exhibited a significantly lower incidence of HFH than patients below the threshold (HR 0.46; 95% CI 0.25-0.86; P = .01). CONCLUSION: Modified QRSd can effectively predict the efficacy of CRT in patients with a "mid-range" QRSd.

Underuse of heart failure medications and poor long-term prognosis in chronic heart failure patients with polypharmacy - A report from the CHART-2 study.

Background: In patients with chronic heart failure (CHF), comorbidities are often managed with multiple medications, characterized by polypharmacy, leading to increased risk of potentially inappropriate medication and adverse effects. Methods: We studied 4,876 consecutive patients with CHF (Stage C/D, age 69.0 ± 12.3 years) in the CHART-2 study to evaluate the association among polypharmacy, underuse of HF medications, and all-cause death. Polypharmacy was defined as the daily use of ≥ 8 medications for the survival classification and regression tree analysis. Results: The average number of medications was 10 in the polypharmacy group and 5 in the non-polypharmacy group, respectively. Over a median of 8.3 (4.1-11.7) years, the incidence rate of all-cause death was significantly higher in the polypharmacy group (n = 2,108) than in the non-polypharmacy group (57.3 % vs. 40.6 %; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.34 (95 %CI, 1.22-1.48), P < 0.001), even in age < 55 years (26.6 % vs. 14.3 %; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.61 (95 %CI, 1.04-2.50), P = 0.033). In patients with polypharmacy, those without renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RAS-I) and/or beta-blockers (N = 1,023) were associated with increased incidence of all-cause death as compared with those with both medications (aHR 1.18; 95 %CI 1.04-1.35, P = 0.012). Conclusions: Polypharmacy was associated with poor long-term prognosis, even in younger patients with CHF. Among 4,876 patients with CHF, 1023 (20.9%) with polypharmacy and underuse of RAS-I and/or beta-blocker were associated with increased risk of all-cause death.

Intractable Ventricular Tachycardia Prior to an Overt Cardiac Tumor Mass of Metastatic Cardiac Rhabdomyosarcoma (Spindle-cell Type).

We herein report a 37-year-old man who experienced recurrence of metastatic cardiac rhabdomyosarcoma along with intractable ventricular tachycardia (VT) 7 years after resection of rhabdomyosarcoma in his right elbow. At 36 years old, he developed VT unresponsive to radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). Initially, the cardiac tumor was not detected, but it gradually grew in size at the RFCA site. A surgical biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic cardiac rhabdomyosarcoma. Despite radiation therapy, cardiac tumor progression and VT instability could not be prevented. Ultimately, the patient died 27 months after the initial documentation of VT.

Long-term prognostic significance of history of cancer and atrial fibrillation in coronary artery disease.

Background: Limited data exist on the prognostic significance of a history of cancer and atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). This study aimed to evaluate the associations among a history of cancer, AF, and long-term prognosis in patients with CAD. Methods: We studied 3,233 patients with CAD (69 ± 11 years; women, 23%) in a multicenter hospital-based cohort study, the CHART-2 and related a history of cancer and AF to cardiovascular outcomes with a median follow-up of 10.8 years. Results: Of the 3,233 patients enrolled, 10.7% and 11.2% had a history of cancer and AF, respectively, while 2.8% had both. Patients with AF and a history of cancer were characterized by older age, male sex, and higher BNP levels. Anticoagulant use with warfarin or direct oral anticoagulants increased from 43% at baseline to 56% at 10 years in patients with CAD with AF and no history of cancer and increased from 49% to 83% in those with both. Patients with CAD with both comorbidities had a higher risk of a composite outcome including stroke, thrombosis, and major bleeding (Hazard Ratio [HRadjusted], 2.26; 1.50-3.40, P < 0.001). Furthermore, patients with both comorbidities had a higher risk of all-cause death (1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-2.12, P = 0.007) including cancer death (2.62; 1.51-4.54, P = 0.001), and new-onset heart failure (HF) requiring hospitalization (2.47; 1.54-3.96, P < 0.001). Conclusions: These results demonstrate that CAD patients with a history of cancer and AF have an increased risk of composite outcomes, including stroke, systemic thrombosis, major bleeding, all-cause death, cancer-related death, and new-onset HF.

Inhaled nitric oxide testing in predicting prognosis in pulmonary hypertension due to left-sided heart diseases.

AIMS: The pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension (PH) due to left-sided heart disease (Group 2 PH) is distinct from that of other groups of PH, yet there are still no approved therapies that selectively target pulmonary circulation. The increase in pulmonary capillary pressure due to left-sided heart disease is a trigger event for physical and biological alterations of the pulmonary circulation, including the nitric oxide (NO)-soluble guanylate cyclase-cyclic guanosine monophosphate axis. This study investigated inhaled NO vasoreactivity tests for patients with Group 2 PH and hypothesized that these changes may have a prognostic impact. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a single-centre, retrospective study with a median follow-up of 365 days. From January 2011 to December 2015, we studied 69 patients with Group 2 PH [age, 61.5 ± 13.0 (standard deviation) years; male:female, 49:20; left ventricular ejection fraction, 50.1 ± 20.4%; mean pulmonary arterial pressure, ≥25 mmHg; and pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP), >15 mmHg]. No adverse events were observed after NO inhalation. Thirty-four patients with Group 2 PH showed increased PAWP (ΔPAWP: 3.26 ± 2.22 mmHg), while the remaining 35 patients did not (ΔPAWP: -2.11 ± 2.29 mmHg). Multivariate analysis revealed that increased PAWP was the only significant predictor of all-cause death or hospitalization for heart failure (HF) after 1 year (hazard ratio 4.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.27-14.83; P = 0.019). The acute response of PAWP to NO differed between HF with preserved and reduced ejection fractions. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with Group 2 PH were tolerant of the inhaled NO test. NO-induced PAWP is a novel prognostic indicator.

Utilization and Efficacy of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure　- A Report From the CHART-2 Study.

Background: Although cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is effective for patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction and wide QRS (≥120 ms), data on the use of or long-term outcomes after CRT implantation in Japan are limited. Methods and Results: We examined proper CRT utilization and outcomes in 3,447 consecutive symptomatic CHF patients registered in the CHART-2 Study. We identified 167 potentially eligible patients and divided them into 4 groups according to the presence (+) or absence (-) of an indication for and implantation of CRT: Group A (reference group), (+)indication/(+)CRT; Group B, (+)indication/(-)CRT; Group C, (-)indication/(+)CRT; and Group D, (-)indication/(-)CRT. Based on the Japanese Circulation Society guidelines, 91 patients met the eligibility for CRT implantation, with 43 (47%) of them undergoing CRT implantation. After adjusting for confounders, age was significantly associated with no CRT use (odds ratio per 5-year increase 1.46; 95% confidence interval 1.11-2.05; P=0.012). Among the 4 groups, the cumulative incidence of cardiovascular death and CHF admission were highest in Group B and lowest in Group D (P=0.029). Conclusions: In this study, only half the eligible CHF patients properly received CRT. Aging was a significant risk factor for no CRT use. Patients without CRT despite having an indication could be at higher risk of mortality and CHF admission.

Prognostic impact of a history of cancer and atrial fibrillation in antithrombotic therapy for chronic heart failure.

AIMS: This study aimed to examine the prognostic significance of a history of cancer and atrial fibrillation (AF) in antithrombotic therapy for patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). METHODS AND RESULTS: We enrolled consecutive 4876 CHF patients (69 ± 12 years; women, 31.9%) in our multicentre, hospital-based cohort study, the Chronic Heart Failure Analysis and Registry in the Tohoku District-2 (CHART-2), with a median follow-up of 8.7 years. Among them, 14% and 41% had a history of cancer and AF, respectively. AF patients with a history of cancer were older, more frequently men. History of cancer was not statistically associated with higher rate of composite of stroke, systemic thrombosis, and major bleeding defined by International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis [Fine-Gray sub-distribution hazard ratio (sHR) accounting for the competing risk of all-cause death, 0.91; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.56-1.48; P = 0.715]. The patients with history of cancer and AF had a heightened risk for the composite of stroke, systemic thrombosis, and major bleeding (sHR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.04-2.60; P = 0.033), especially in those aged >75 years (sHR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.01-4.53; P = 0.046) and those with ischaemic heart disease (IHD; 2.48; 1.30-4.72; P = 0.006). Furthermore, 36% of AF patients with a history of cancer did not receive anticoagulant therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The CHF patients with history of cancer and AF had higher risk for stroke, systemic thrombosis, and major bleeding, especially in the elderly and those with IHD, but considerable number of the patients did not receive anticoagulant therapy, indicating the need for better optimal anticoagulation strategy.

Risk prediction for new-onset atrial fibrillation using the Minnesota code electrocardiography classification system.

BACKGROUND: Few risk models are available to predict future onset of atrial fibrillation (AF) in workers. We aimed to develop risk prediction models for new-onset AF, using annual health checkup (HC) data with electrocardiogram findings. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively included 56,288 factory or office workers (mean age = 51.5 years, 33.0% women) who underwent a HC at a medical center and fulfilled the following criteria; age ≥ 40 years, no history of AF, and greater than 1 annual follow-up HC in 2013-2016. Using Cox models with the Akaike information criterion, we developed and compared prediction models for new-onset AF with and without the Minnesota code information. We externally validated the discrimination accuracy of the models in a general Japanese population cohort, the Hisayama cohort. During the median 3.0-year follow-up, 209 (0.37%) workers developed AF. Age, sex, waist circumference, blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, and γ-GTP were associated with new-onset of AF. Using the Minnesota code information, the AUC significantly improved from 0.82 to 0.84 in the derivation cohort and numerically improved from 0.78 to 0.79 in the validation cohort, and from 0.77 to 0.79 in the Hisayama cohort. The NRI and IDI significantly improved in all and male subjects in both the derivation and validation cohorts, and in female subjects in both the validation and the Hisayama cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: We developed useful risk model with Minnesota code information for predicting new-onset AF from large worker population validated in the original and external cohorts, although study interpretation is limited by small improvement of AUC.

Prognostic impacts of serum uric acid levels in patients with chronic heart failure: insights from the CHART-2 study.

AIMS: Prognostic impacts of serum uric acid (UA) levels in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) remain inconclusive, especially for the whole range of serum UA levels. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the Chronic Heart Failure Registry and Analysis in the Tohoku District-2 (CHART-2) study, we enrolled 4652 consecutive patients with CHF and classified them into four groups based on baseline serum UA levels by the Classification and Regression Tree: G1 (<3.8 mg/dL, N = 313), G2 (3.8-7.1 mg/dL, N = 3070), G3 (7.2-9.2 mg/dL, N = 1018), and G4 (>9.2 mg/dL, N = 251). Mean age was 71 ± 12, 69 ± 12, 68 ± 13, and 69 ± 15 years in G1, G2, G3, and G4, respectively (P < 0.001). During the median follow-up of 6.3 years, in G1, G2, G3, and G4, 111 (35%), 905 (29%), 370 (36%), and 139 (55%) patients died and 79 (25%), 729 (24%), 300 (29%), and 115 (46%) experienced heart failure hospitalization, respectively (both P < 0.001). G1 was characterized by a significantly high prevalence of women as compared with G2, G3, and G4 (59%, 32%, 24%, and 23%, respectively). Serum creatinine levels (0.8 ± 0.4, 0.9 ± 0.4, 1.2 ± 0.6, and 1.4 ± 0.8 mg/dL, respectively), prevalence of atrial fibrillation (34%, 39%, 45%, and 50%, respectively), and diuretics use (36%, 45%, 67%, and 89%, respectively) increased from G1, G2, G3 to G4 (all P < 0.001), while left ventricular ejection fraction decreased from G1, G2, G3 to G4 (59 ± 15, 58 ± 15, 54 ± 15, and 52 ± 17%, respectively, P < 0.001). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models showed that, as compared with G2, both G1 and G4 had increased incidence of all-cause death [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08-1.67, P = 0.009; aHR 1.28, 95% CI 1.02-1.61, P = 0.037, respectively] and heart failure admission (aHR 1.39, 95% CI 1.09-1.78, P = 0.008 and aHR 1.35, 95% CI, 1.06-1.71, P = 0.014, respectively). This U-shaped relationship was evident in the elderly patients. Furthermore, abnormal transitions to either higher or lower levels of serum UA from G2 were associated with increased mortality (aHR 1.29, 95% CI 1.06-1.57, P = 0.012; aHR 1.57, 95% CI 1.12-2.20, P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that serum UA levels have the U-shaped prognostic effects and abnormal transitions to either higher or lower levels are associated with poor prognosis in the elderly patients with CHF.

Prognostic impacts of dynamic cardiac structural changes in heart failure patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

AIMS: We aimed to examine temporal changes in left ventricular (LV) structures and their prognostic impacts in patients with heart failure (HF) and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). METHODS AND RESULTS: In the Chronic Heart Failure Analysis and Registry in the Tohoku District-2 (CHART-2) study (n = 10 219), we divided 2698 consecutive HFpEF patients (68.9 ± 12.2 years, 32.1% female) into three groups by LV hypertrophy (LVH) and enlargement (LVE) at baseline: (-)LVH/(-)LVE (n = 989), (+)LVH/(-)LVE (n = 1448), and (+)LVH/(+)LVE (n = 261). We examined temporal changes in LV structures and their prognostic impacts during a median 8.7-year follow-up. From (-)LVH/(-)LVE, (+)LVH/(-)LVE to (+)LVH/(+)LVE at baseline, the incidence of the primary outcome, a composite of cardiovascular death or HF admission, significantly increased. Among 1808 patients who underwent echocardiography at both baseline and 1 year, we noted substantial group transitions from baseline to 1 year; the transition rates from (-)LVH/(-)LVE to (+)LVH/(-)LVE, from (+)LVH/(-)LVE to (-)LVH/(-)LVE, from (+)LVH/(-)LVE to (+)LVH/(+)LVE, and from (+)LVH/(+)LVE to (+)LVH/(-)LVE were 27% (182/671), 22% (213/967), 6% (59/967), and 26% (44/170), respectively. In the univariable Cox proportional hazard model, patients who transitioned from (+)LVH/(-)LVE to (+)LVH/(+)LVE or remained in (+)LVH/(+)LVE had the worst subsequent prognosis [hazard ratio (HR) 4.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.09-6.99, P < 0.001; HR 4.01, 95% CI 2.85-5.65, P < 0.001, respectively], as compared with those who remained in (-)LVH/(-)LVE. These results were unchanged after adjustment for the covariates including baseline LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and 1-year LVEF change. CONCLUSION: In HFpEF patients, LV structures dynamically change over time with significant prognostic impacts, where patients who develop LVE with LVH have the worst prognosis.

Temporal changes in left ventricular ejection fraction and their prognostic impacts in patients with Stage B heart failure.

BACKGROUND: We have recently demonstrated that left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) dynamically changes over time with prognostic impacts in Stage C/D patients, namely, those who have a current or past history of heart failure (HF). However, it is unknown whether this is also the case in asymptomatic Stage B patients, namely, those who have a risk of HF, but do not have a history of HF. METHODS: In our CHART-2 Study (N = 10,219), we enrolled 4005 Stage B patients and divided them into 3 groups by LVEF; preserved EF (pEF, LVEF ≥50%, N = 3526), mid-range EF (mrEF, LVEF 41-49%, N = 302), and reduced EF (rEF, LVEF ≤40%, N = 177). We examined the prognostic impacts of LVEF transitions among the 3 groups in comparison with 4477 patients with Stage C/D HF. RESULTS: Stage B were characterized by less severe clinical status and better prognosis compared with Stage C/D. Stage B in mrEF and rEF at baseline dynamically transitioned to other groups at 1-year, whereas those in pEF unchanged; at 1-year, mrEF transitioned to pEF/rEF by 50/16%, and rEF transitioned to pEF/mrEF by 25/31%, respectively, whereas pEF transitioned to mrEF/rEF by only 3.6/0.7%, respectively, which were consistent with findings in findings with Stage C/D. Although LVEF decrease was directly associated with all-cause mortality in both the Stage B and Stage C/D with pEF, factors related to LVEF changes were different between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: In Stage B, LVEF dynamically changes with prognostic impacts as in Stage C/D, whereas different determination factors may be involved in the 2 stages. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chronic Heart Failure Analysis and Registry in the Tohoku District (CHART)-2 (NCT00418041).

Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors in elderly patients with chronic heart failure -A report from the CHART-2 study.

BACKGROUND: Since most of the randomized clinical trials for heart failure (HF) were designed to exclude elderly patients, limited data are available on their clinical characteristics, prognosis, and prognostic factors. METHODS: We compared clinical characteristics, prognosis, and prognostic factors among Stage C/D HF patients in our CHART-2 Study (N = 4876, mean 69 years, women 32%, 6.3-year follow-up) by age (G1, ≤64 years, N = 1521; G2, 65-74 years, N = 1510; and G3, ≥75 years, N = 1845). RESULTS: From G1 to G3, the prevalence of women, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and plasma levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) increased (all P < 0.001). Similarly, 5-year mortality increased (9.9, 17.3 to 39.9%, P < 0.001) along with a decrease in proportion of cardiovascular death and an increase in non-cardiovascular death in both sexes. While all-cause and cardiovascular mortality was comparable between the sexes, women had significantly lower incidence of non-cardiovascular death than men in G2 and G3, which was attributable to the higher incidence of cancer death and pneumonia death in men than in women. Although NYHA functional class III-IV, chronic kidney disease, cancer, LVEF, and BNP had significant impacts on all-cause death in all groups, their impacts were less evident in G3 as compared with G1. CONCLUSIONS: The elderly HF patients, as compared with younger HF patients, were characterized by more severe clinical background, increased proportion of non-cardiovascular death and worse prognosis with different impacts of prognostic factors across the age groups.

Clinical benefits and risks of antithrombotic therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation with comorbidities - A report from the CHART-2 Study.

BACKGROUND: The benefits of antithrombotic therapy (ATT) for atrial fibrillation (AF) are occasionally offset by major bleeding complications. However, the clinical benefits and risks of ATT in AF patients, with special references to comorbidities, such as heart failure (HF), coronary artery disease (CAD), and the patterns of AF, remain to be fully elucidated. METHODS: A total of 3221 consecutive AF patients from our Chronic Heart Failure Analysis and Registry in the Tohoku District-2 (CHART-2) Study (N = 10,219) were divided into 4 groups based on ATT at enrollment; no-ATT, anticoagulant alone, antiplatelet alone, and both of them (AC&AP). Then, efficacy and safety outcomes including thromboembolic events, major bleeding, and mortality were evaluated among the 4 groups. RESULTS: Anticoagulant monotherapy was associated with reduced risk of ischemic stroke in patients with but not in those without HF, CAD, or non-paroxysmal AF. Although there was no significant difference in major bleeding among the 4 groups, a composite of thromboembolism and major bleeding occurred more frequently in the AC&AP group, even in combination with anticoagulants and single antiplatelet therapy, indicating that the combination therapy is more harmful than anticoagulant monotherapy for AF patients, especially for those with HF or CAD. Lastly, no-ATT group was associated with worse prognosis compared with other 3 groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that ATT is beneficial for AF patients particularly for those with HF, CAD, or non-paroxysmal AF and that among ATT, anticoagulant monotherapy may be most profitable for both clinical benefits and risks for AF patients.