Trends and effect of atrial fibrillation on inpatient outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) but there is conflicting evidence on whether AF impacts outcomes after TAVR. METHODS: Hospitalizations of adults ≥50 years old who had undergone elective TAVR from 2012 to 2015 were included. Poisson regression was used to assess changes in in-hospital complications, average length of stay (LOS) after TAVR, and discharge disposition over time. Multivariable logistic, linear, and generalized logistic regression models, adjusting for patient and hospital characteristics, were used to estimate the effect of AF on inpatient outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 7,266 TAVR hospitalizations were included; AF was present in 44% of patients. Between 2012 and 2015, there was a significant decrease in the incidence of acute kidney injury, blood transfusion, average LOS, and inpatient mortality both for AF and non-AF patients. However, the incidences of vascular complications and major bleeding decreased only among non-AF patients. After adjustment, AF was associated with increased incidences of TIA/stroke (OR 1.36, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.85), acute kidney injury (OR 1.54, 95% CI: 1.33, 1.78), blood transfusion (OR 1.14, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.30), transfer to a skilled nursing facility (OR 1.38, 95% CI: 1.23, 1.55), and longer average LOS (CIE 1.30, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.54). AF was not associated with inpatient mortality (OR 1.09, 95% CI: 0.81, 1.48). CONCLUSIONS: AF is prevalent among patients undergoing TAVR, and is associated with higher incidences of inpatient complications, discharge to a skilled nursing facility, and longer average LOS. While the incidence of many complications has declined in the past few years, continued efforts to further reduce complications in patients with AF is urgently required for expansion of TAVR to broader populations.