Long-term safety and efficacy of left atrial appendage occlusion in dialysis patients with atrial fibrillation: a multi-center, prospective, open label, observational study

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in end stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients undergoing dialysis is high, however, the high risk of bleeding often hampers with a correct anticoagulation in ESKD patients with AF, despite high thromboembolic risk. Left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion is a anticoagulation (OAT) for thromboembolism prevention in AF populations with high hemorrhagic risk. METHODS AND RESULTS: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of LAA occlusion in a cohort of dialysis patients undergoing the procedure (LAA occlusion cohort, n = 106), in comparison with two other ESKD cohorts, one taking warfarin (Warfarin cohort, n = 114) and the other without anticoagulation therapy (No-OAT cohort, n = 148). After a median follow-up of 4 years, a Cox regression model, adjusted for possible confounding factors, showed that the hazard ratios (HRs) of thromboembolic events in the LAA occlusion cohort were 0.19 (95%CI 0.04–0.96; p = 0.045) and 0.16 (95%CI 0.04–0.66; p = 0.011) as compared with Warfarin and No-OAT cohorts, respectively. The HR of bleeding in the LAA occlusion cohort was 0.37 (95%CI 0.16–0.83; p = 0.017) compared to Warfarin cohort, while there were no significant differences between the LAA occlusion and the No-OAT cohort (HR 0.51; 95%CI 0.23–1.12; p = 0.094). Adjusted Cox regression models showed lower mortality in patients undergoing LAA occlusion as compared with both the Warfarin cohort (HR 0.60; 95%CI 0.38–0.94; p = 0.027) and no-OAT cohort (HR 0.52; 95%CI 0.34–0.78; p = 0.002). Thromboembolic events in the LAA occlusion cohort were lower than expected according to the CHA(2)DS(2)VASc score (1.7 [95%CI 0.3–3.0] vs 6.7 events per 100 person/years, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In ESKD patients with AF, LAA occlusion is safe and effective and is associated with reduced mortality compared with OAT or no therapy.