Age-Related Differences in the Clinical Characteristics and Treatment of Elderly Patients With Atrial Fibrillation in Japan ― Insight From the ANAFIE (All Nippon AF In Elderly) Registry ―
Ken‐ichi Hiasa, Hidetaka Kaku, Hiroshi Inoue, Takeshi Yamashita, Masaharu Akao, Hirotsugu Atarashi, Yukihiro Koretsune, Ken Okumura, Wataru Shimizu, Takanori Ikeda, Ḱazunori Toyoda, Atsushi Hirayama, Masahiro Yasaka, Takenori Yamaguchi, Satoshi Teramukai, Tetsuya Kimura, Jumpei Kaburagi, Atsushi Takita, Hiroyuki Tsutsui
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is increasing as the global population ages. Elderly AF patients (≥75 years) have a worse prognosis than younger patients, and effective management is often difficult due to multiple comorbidities. This analysis examined the age-related differences in clinical characteristics and treatment in real-world elderly Japanese AF patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: -VASc scores, and bleeding, based on HAS-BLED score, increased with age. Both warfarin and apixaban were used more often as age increased (trend P<0.0001, for each), while other anticoagulants were used less. Anticoagulant doses were significantly lower in older patients. CONCLUSIONS: Permanent/persistent AF, comorbidities, and cardiovascular and bleeding risk all increased significantly with age. Furthermore, use of warfarin and apixaban increased with age, accompanied by a decrease in other oral anticoagulant usage.