Characteristics of patients with atrial fibrillation treated with direct oral anticoagulants and new insights into inappropriate dosing: results from the French National Prospective Registry: PAFF.

AIMS: Since the introduction of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) for atrial fibrillation (AF) therapy, inappropriate and/or underdosing of these drugs has been a major clinical challenge. We evaluated the characteristics of patients with AF treated with inappropriate and low-dose DOACs. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with AF treated with inappropriate and low-dose DOACs from October 2021 to December 2021 were evaluated from the French National Prospective Registry (PAFF). We evaluated 1890 patients with AF receiving DOACs (apixaban 55%, dabigatran 7%, and rivaroxaban 38%). Inappropriate dosing was noted in 18% of the population. Patients with appropriate dosing had less comorbidities: younger age (75 ± 10 vs. 82 ± 8 years old, P < 0.0001), reduced chronic renal failure (26 vs. 61%, P < 0.0001), and lower CHA2DS2VASc and HASBLED scores (3 ± 2 vs. 4 ± 3, P < 0.0001; 2 ±1 vs. 2 ± 2, P < 0.0001), respectively. In multivariate analysis, older age (P < 0.0001) and a higher CHA2DS2VASc score (P = 0.0056) were independently associated with inappropriate DOAC dosing. Among 472 patients (27%) treated with low-dose rivaroxaban or apixaban, 46% were inappropriately underdosed. Patients inappropriately underdosed were younger (82.3 ± 8.4 vs. 85.9 ± 5.9 years, P < 0.0001) with less chronic renal disease (47 vs. 98%, P < 0.0001). However, these patients had higher rates of prior haemorrhagic events (18 vs. 10%, P = 0.01), clopidogrel use (11 vs. 3%, P = 0.0002), and apixaban prescription (74 vs. 50%, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Within this large registry, DOACs were associated with inappropriate dosing in 18% of cases. Independent predictors of inappropriate dosing were high CHA2DS2VASc scores and older age. Moreover, 46% of patients treated with low-dose DOACs were inappropriately underdosed and more frequently in patients treated with apixaban.

Determinants of Antithrombotic Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation in Octogenarians: Results of the OCTOFA Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Atrial fibrillation, the most frequent form of arrhythmia, affects 5-15% individuals aged > 80 years. Stroke is a major risk for atrial fibrillation patients. The benefits of anticoagulant therapy clearly outweigh the risk of hemorrhage, even in the elderly. Despite the efficacy of warfarin, many eligible patients receive no prophylactic antithrombotic therapy. New generation oral anticoagulants compare favorably with vitamin K antagonists in the prevention of thromboembolic events and hemorrhage. These new agents are likely to influence the prescribing habits of anticoagulants in atrial fibrillation. The aim of this study to investigate both the frequency and the determining factors of anticoagulant prescriptions in AF patients aged ≥ 80 years and followed up by private-practice cardiologists in France. METHODS: The OCTOFA (Atrial Fibrillation in Octogenarians) Study assessed the anticoagulant prescribing habits of cardiologists in France. The volunteer cardiologists recruited all consecutive patients fulilling the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Between June 2013 and September 2016, 89 cardiologists recruited 738 eligible patients: age ≥ 80 years, non-valvular atrial fibrillation, no other compelling indication for anticoagulation therapy, no recent acute coronary syndrome or stroke. Most (90.7%) patients were on oral anticoagulant therapy: vitamin K antagonist or non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants, low molecular weight heparin (1.4%), aspirin (5.7%), and no antithrombotic treatment (2.2%). Patients on vitamin K antagonists were older (p < 0.001), had lower renal function (p = 0.033), and had a more frequent history of myocardial infarction (p < 0.001), heart failure (p = 0.001), peripheral artery disease (p = 0.033), major hemorrhage (p = 0.025), and falls (p = 0.045). Four determining factors of anticoagulant prescriptions were statistically significant: high CHA2DS2-VASc score (p < 0.001), high HAS-BLED score (p < 0.001), age > 90 years (p = 0.001), and moderate/severe cognitive impairment (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Most private-practice cardiologists prescribe anticoagulant treatment according to current guidelines in elderly atrial fibrillation patients. Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants represent a significant proportion of prescriptions.

Ambulatory hypertensive patients treated by cardiologists in France.

BACKGROUND: While general practitioners treat most hypertensive patients in France, hypertension is the most frequent pathology treated by cardiologists, raising questions about the differing profiles of such patients. Poor control of hypertension is commonly reported, and yet has not improved over time. Better understanding of the determinants of control, at both patient and physician levels, is necessary to implement improvements in practice. AIMS: To describe the hypertensive population treated by independent cardiologists in France and to assess the prevalence and determinants of not-at-goal blood pressure (BP), at patient and physician levels. METHODS: The COLHYGE study was an observational cross-sectional epidemiological study. Consecutive patients (n=5798) were selected by 371 independent cardiologists in France. Data concerning patients and physicians were assessed. RESULTS: Our study population had an elevated cardiovascular risk, high prevalence of patients in secondary cardiovascular prevention (27.5%) and a high proportion of diabetic patients (22.8%). Only 20.8% of the population presented controlled BP. At the patient level, the following variables were negatively and independently associated with BP control: age; body mass index; heart rate; recently diagnosed hypertension; left ventricular hypertrophy; patient belief that they are taking too many pills; prescription of calcium channel blockers, lipid-lowering agents and antiplatelet agents. Presence of atrial fibrillation and the prescription of renin-angiotensin system blockers and fixed combinations correlated positively with BP control. At the physician level, working in big cities and having an exclusive independent practice were associated with good BP control. There was high heterogeneity among physicians in terms of BP control, independent of the patient and physician characteristics assessed. CONCLUSION: The COLHYGE study has confirmed a high cardiovascular risk and poor BP control among hypertensive patients treated by cardiologists in France. Strategies aiming to control BP should focus on both patient and physician characteristics.

Gender-related differences in the management of hypertension by cardiologists: the PARITE study.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown gender differences in the management of cardiovascular risk factors and diseases. Whether the management of hypertension by cardiologists in France differs according to patient gender has not been fully investigated. AIMS: The main objective of this cross-sectional, multicentre study was to examine the management according to gender of hypertensive patients by office-based cardiologists in France. METHODS: Cardiologists were asked to include consecutively two men and two women attending a routine consultation for essential hypertension. Therapeutic management was evaluated by comparing cardiovascular investigations in the preceding 6 months and hypertension control according to gender and the patients' global cardiovascular risk. RESULTS: Overall, data from 3440 adult patients (53% men) referred to 654 cardiologists were analysed. Hypertension was uncontrolled in 76% of both men and women and 69% were at high global cardiovascular risk (75% of men, 62% of women; P<0.001). Significantly fewer cardiovascular investigations had been performed in the preceding 6 months in women (22.6% vs 44.2% in men; P<0.001). The treatment regimen was changed by the cardiologist in approximately 50% of patients regardless of gender or global cardiovascular risk. CONCLUSIONS: The PARITE study shows that in French office-based cardiology practice, the antihypertensive regimen is adjusted as often in female as in male patients. However, the results suggest that there is room for improvement in the investigation of cardiovascular disease in women. Healthcare providers could be encouraged to implement established guidelines on the prevention of cardiovascular disease in women.

Distribution of left ventricular ejection fraction and heart rate values in a cohort of stable coronary patients: the INDYCE registry.

BACKGROUND: The distribution of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) - a key factor in coronary artery disease (CAD) patient management and prognostication - is poorly documented. OBJECTIVE: To determine LVEF and heart rate (HR) values, and describe the management of stable CAD patients in France. METHODS: The INDYCE survey was a prospective, multicentre registry of consecutive stable CAD outpatients attending a cardiology consultation. The survey focused on LVEF values measured using the echocardiographic Simpson biplane method. Drug therapy, resting HR, blood pressure and symptoms were also recorded. RESULTS: Overall, 3119 patients (68.4 +/- 11.0 years; 80% men) were enrolled. LVEF was 56.1+/-11.8% on average, and was poor (<40%) and moderately impaired (40-50%) in 9.6% (n=298) and 19.8% (n=619) of cases, respectively. Symptomatic angina pectoris was present in 19.2% of cases and only 40.6% of patients were asymptomatic (no angina and NYHA class < or = I) despite relatively aggressive management (79.0% of patients had undergone coronary angioplasty and/or bypass graft). Interestingly, 14.1% of patients with LVEF less than 40% were asymptomatic. In multivariable analysis, LVEF less than 40% was associated most strongly with symptomatic status (odds ratio 3.82; 95% CI 2.59-5.63; P<0.0001), together with female sex, age greater than 75 years, diabetes, HR greater or equal to 70 bpm, sedentariness, obesity and disease duration. CONCLUSION: Only 9.6% of stable CAD patients had severe left ventricular dysfunction; among them, 14.1% were strictly asymptomatic. This could justify regular LVEF measurement in CAD patients. Three potentially reversible factors (HR>or=70 bpm, being overweight and sedentariness) were linked independently to the presence of symptoms.