Management of oral anticoagulation after cardioembolic stroke and stroke survival data from a population based stroke registry (LuSSt)

BACKGROUND Cardioembolic stroke (CES) due to atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with high stroke mortality. Oral anticoagulation (OAC) reduces stroke mortality, however, the impact of OAC-administration during hospital stay post ischemic stroke on mortality is unclear. We determined whether the timing of OAC initiation among other prognostic factors influenced mortality after CES. METHODS Within the Ludwigshafen Stroke Study (LuSSt), a prospective population-based stroke register, we analysed all patients with a first ever ischemic stroke or TIA due to AF from 2006 until 2010. We analysed whether treatment or non-treatment with OAC and initiation of OAC-therapy during and after hospitalization influenced stroke mortality within 500 days after stroke/TIA due to AF. RESULTS In total 479 patients had a first-ever ischemic stroke (n = 394) or TIA (n = 85) due to AF. One-year mortality rate was 28.4%. Overall, 252 patients (52.6%) received OAC. In 181 patients (37.8%), OAC treatment was started in hospital and continued thereafter. Recommendation to start OAC post discharge was given in 110 patients (23.0%) of whom 71 patients received OAC with VKA (14.8%). No OAC-recommendation was given in 158 patients (33.0%). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, higher age (HR 1.04; 95% CI 1.02-1.07), coronary artery disease (HR: 1.6; 95% CI 1.1-2.3), higher mRS-score at discharge (HR 1.24; 95% CI 1.09-1.4), and OAC treatment ((no OAC vs started in hospital (HR: 5.4; 95% CI 2.8-10.5), were independently associated with stroke mortality. OAC-timing did not significantly influence stroke mortality (started post discharge vs. started in hospital (HR 0.3; 95% CI 0.07-1.4)). CONCLUSIONS OAC non-treatment is the main predictor for stroke mortality. Although OAC initiation during hospital stay showed a trend towards higher mortality, early initiation in selected patients is an option as recommendation to start OAC post hospital was implemented in only 64.5%. This rate might be elevated by implementation of special intervention programs.