Table 1.
Baseline Characteristics of the Matched Study Population
| Variable | No AF | AF | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. of patients (%) | 14 662 (50.0) | 14 662 (50.0) | NA |
| Patient age, y, median (25th–75th percentile) | 79.6 (71.8–86.0) | 79.6 (71.8–86.0) | NA |
| Women, n (%) | 7596 (51.8) | 7596 (51.8) | NA |
| Comorbidities, n (%) | |||
| Heart failure | 2143 (14.6) | 2143 (14.6) | >.99 |
| Hypertension | 7801 (53.2) | 7801 (53.1) | >.99 |
| Diabetes | 1623 (11.1) | 1623 (11.1) | >.99 |
| Peripheral artery disease | 1294 (8.8) | 1050 (7.1) | <0.01 |
| Alcohol abuse | 675 (4.6) | 725 (4.9) | 0.17 |
| Liver disease | 302 (2.1) | 347 (2.4) | 0.07 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 822 (5.6) | 889 (6.1) | 0.10 |
| Prior bleeding | 2248 (15.3) | 2782 (19.0) | <0.01 |
| Cancer | 2717 (18.5) | 2835 (19.3) | 0.08 |
| Ischemic heart disease | 4343 (29.6) | 4593 (31.3) | <0.01 |
| Chronic obstructive lung disease | 1609 (11.0) | 1743 (11.9) | 0.01 |
| Dementia | 764 (5.2) | 806 (5.5) | 0.28 |
| Transient ischemic attack | 902 (6.2) | 902 (6.2) | >.99 |
| Thromboembolism | 238 (1.6) | 238 (1.6) | >.99 |
| Concomitant therapy, n (%) | |||
| Digoxin | 231 (1.6) | 3208 (21.9) | <0.01 |
| Amiodarone | 35 (0.2) | 246 (1.7) | <0.01 |
| β‐blockers | 4491 (30.6) | 7002 (47.8) | <0.01 |
| Renin angiotensin system inhibitor | 6421 (43.8) | 5679 (38.7) | <0.01 |
| Loop diuretics | 2862 (19.5) | 3793 (25.9) | <0.01 |
| Thiazide | 3322 (22.7) | 2897 (19.8) | <0.01 |
| Spiron | 697 (4.8) | 778 (5.3) | 0.03 |
| Diuretics in combination* | 2058 (14.0) | 1655 (11.3) | <0.01 |
| Statins | 4067 (27.7) | 3830 (26.1) | <0.01 |
| Calcium channel blockers | 4113 (28.1) | 3818 (26.0) | <0.01 |
| Anticoagulation therapy † | |||
| No antithrombotic therapy | 8686 (59.2) | 5888 (40.2) | <0.01 |
| Antiplatelet therapy only | 5976 (40.8) | 5165 (35.2) | |
| Vitamin K antagonists | 0 (0.0) | 2951 (20.1) | |
| Direct oral anticoagulants | 0 (0.0) | 667 (4.6) | |
| CHA2DS2‐VASc score | |||
| 0 | 562 (3.8) | 564 (3.9) | 1.00 |
| 1 | 1263 (8.6) | 1265 (8.6) | |
| ≥2 | 12 837 (87.6) | 12 833 (87.5) | |
| SSS, median (25th–75th percentile) | 49.0 (37.0–55.0) | 45.0 (26.0–54.0) | <0.01 |
AF indicates atrial fibrillation; NA, not applicable; and SSS, Scandinavian Stroke Scale; and CHA2DS2‐VASc (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 years, diabetes mellitus, prior TIA or thromboembolism, vascular disease, age 65–74 years, sex category).
*
Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical code C07C, C08G, C03B, C03X.
†
Prescription of oral anticoagulation therapy is based on the last prescription before the stroke of either vitamin K antagonists or direct oral anticoagulants; however, these patients can additionally be on antithrombotic treatment. Patients categorized under antithrombotic treatment are not treated with any of the oral anticoagulants.