Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a frequent cardiovascular (CV) comorbidity in cancer.Objectives
The purpose of this study was to examine clinical characteristics and contemporary management of patients with AF and cancer with a specific focus on antithrombotic treatments.Methods
This was a prospective, multicenter, observational study of patients with a recent cancer diagnosis and electrocardiographically confirmed AF (the BLITZ-AF Cancer Registry). CHA2DS2VASc scores were calculated for study participants.Results
Overall, 1,514 individuals were enrolled from June 2019 to September 2021 (mean age 74 ± 9 years, 47.5% of participants >75 years of age; 63.5% males). CV diseases were common: 20.9% had heart failure, 18.1% had coronary artery disease, 38.5% had valvular heart disease, and 9.8% had peripheral artery disease. Previous thromboembolic and hemorrhagic events occurred in 13.9% and 10.4% of subjects, respectively. The most common cancer types were lung (14.9%), colorectal (14.1%), prostate (8.8%), and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (8.1%). In total, 41.5% of the patients had a CHA2DS2VASc score ≥4. Before admission or prior to cardiologist consultation, 16.6% of subjects were not taking any antithrombotic therapy and 22.7% were receiving antiplatelet agents and/or low-molecular-weight heparin. At discharge or after cardiologic assessment, these percentages dropped to 7.7% and 16.6%, respectively. This trend was paralleled by an increase in the use of direct-acting oral anticoagulant, while the proportion of vitamin K antagonist declined.Conclusions
This study demonstrates that there is underuse of appropriate antithrombotic therapy for AF in cancer patients highlighting the need to integrate early CV assessment in the management of these patients. (Non-interventional Study on Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Cancer [BLITZ-AF Cancer]; NCT03909386).
SUBMITTER: Gulizia MM
PROVIDER: S-EPMC11312304 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Gulizia Michele Massimo MM Turazza Fabio Maria FM Ameri Pietro P Alings Marco M Collins Ronan R De Luca Leonardo L Di Nisio Marcello M Lucci Donata D Gabrielli Domenico D Janssens Stefan S Parrini Iris I Pinto Fausto J FJ Zamorano Jose J Colivicchi Furio F
JACC. Advances 20240524 7
<h4>Background</h4>Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a frequent cardiovascular (CV) comorbidity in cancer.<h4>Objectives</h4>The purpose of this study was to examine clinical characteristics and contemporary management of patients with AF and cancer with a specific focus on antithrombotic treatments.<h4>Methods</h4>This was a prospective, multicenter, observational study of patients with a recent cancer diagnosis and electrocardiographically confirmed AF (the BLITZ-AF Cancer Registry). CHA<sub>2</sub> ...[more]