Risk of stroke and bleeding in relation to hypertension in anticoagulated patients with atrial fibrillation : a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hypertension is common in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and carries an additional risk for complications, most notably stroke and bleeding. We assessed the history of hypertension, level of blood pressure control, and an interaction with the choice of oral anticoagulants on clinical outcomes.

METHODS: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that randomised patients to novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) or vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) and reported outcomes stratified by presence of hypertension. Collected outcomes were: ischaemic stroke or systemic embolism (SE), haemorrhagic stroke, intracranial haemorrhage and major bleeding. Log adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and corresponding standard error were calculated, and HRs were compared using Mantel-Haenszel random effects. Quality of the evidence was assessed with Cochrane risk of bias tool.

RESULTS: Five high-quality studies were eligible, including 71.527 participants who received NOACs (apixaban, dabigatran, edoxaban, rivaroxaban) or VKAs, with median follow-up of 1.8-2.8 years. Compared with patients without hypertension, those with hypertension had higher adjusted risk for ischaemic stroke/SE (HR: 1.25, 95%-CI:1.09, 1.43) and haemorrhagic stroke (HR:1.98, 1.24-3.16). On a continuous scale, the risk of ischaemic stroke/SE increased 6-7% per 10 mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure. No interactions were found between the efficacy or safety of NOACs versus VKAs in the presence or absence of hypertension. In both groups, the use of NOACs led to a lower risk of ischaemic stroke/SE, haemorrhagic stroke and intracranial haemorrhage compared with patients that used VKAs.

CONCLUSIONS: Adequate blood pressure management is vital to optimally reduce the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. The benefits of NOACs over VKAs, also apply to patients with elevated blood pressure.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2022

Erschienen:

2022

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:77

Enthalten in:

Acta cardiologica - 77(2022), 3 vom: 02. Mai, Seite 191-195

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Harskamp, Ralf E [VerfasserIn]
Lucassen, Wim A M [VerfasserIn]
Lopes, Renato D [VerfasserIn]
Himmelreich, Jelle C L [VerfasserIn]
Parati, Gianfranco [VerfasserIn]
Weert, Henk C P M van [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

12001-79-5
Anticoagulants
Atrial fibrillation
Bleeding
Direct oral anticoagulants
Hypertension
Journal Article
Meta-Analysis
Review
Stroke
Systematic Review
Vitamin K

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 06.05.2022

Date Revised 06.05.2022

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1080/00015385.2021.1882111

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM322425743