Open AccessAtrial fibrillation, liver cirrhosis, thrombosis, and bleeding: A Danish population‐based cohort study
Author(s) -
Riahi Emil,
Adelborg Kasper,
Pedersen Lars,
Kristensen Søren R.,
Hansen Anette T.,
Sørensen Henrik T.
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
research and practice in thrombosis and haemostasis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2475-0379
DOI - 10.1002/rth2.12668
Subject(s) - medicine , cirrhosis , hazard ratio , atrial fibrillation , stroke (engine) , gastroenterology , population , cohort , myocardial infarction , proportional hazards model , cardiology , confidence interval , mechanical engineering , environmental health , engineering
Abstract Objectives We examined the impact of liver cirrhosis on the risk of thromboembolic events and bleeding complications in patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter (AFF). Methods This population‐based cohort study used data from Danish health registries. We identified all patients with a first‐time diagnosis of AFF during 1995 to 2015, and followed them from their AFF diagnosis until the end of 2016. Patients were categorized according to the presence or absence of liver cirrhosis. We computed incidence rates per 1000 person‐years and hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) based on Cox regression analyses, adjusting for age, CHA 2 DS 2 VASc score, and Charlson Comorbidity Index score. Results We identified 273 225 patients with AFF. Of these, 1463 (0.54%) had liver cirrhosis. During 0 to 5 years of follow‐up, compared to patients without liver cirrhosis, patients with liver cirrhosis had higher incidence rates and hazards of ischemic stroke (29.7 vs 21.6; HR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1‐1.6), venous thromboembolism (9.2 vs 5.5; HR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2‐2.3), but not myocardial infarction (10.2 vs 11.2; HR, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.7–1.2). Patients with liver cirrhosis also had higher rates of hemorrhagic stroke (5.8 vs 3.3; HR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1‐2.6), subdural hemorrhage (5.3 vs 1.6; HR, 3.2; 95% CI, 2.1‐4.9), hemorrhage of the lung or urinary tract (24.6 vs 15.2; HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.3–2.0), and gastrointestinal hemorrhage (34.5 vs 10.4; HR, 3.3; 95% CI, 2.7–3.9). Conclusion In patients with AFF, liver cirrhosis was associated with an elevated risk of ischemic stroke, venous thromboembolism, and all evaluated bleeding complications.