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February 6, 2026European Heart Journal0 citations

The implication of early bleeding on subsequent clinical outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation: a subgroup analysis of the EPIC-CAD trial

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SAS Y AnMCM S ChoDKD Y Kang

Key Result

Early bleeding within 90 days in patients with CAD and AF was not significantly associated with subsequent ischemic events (HR 1.80; 95% CI 0.131-10.32; P=0.509).

Key Points

  • To evaluate how early bleeding impacts clinical outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation.
  • Subgroup analysis of EPIC-CAD trial data
  • Included patients with at least three months of follow-up
  • Compared outcomes between patients with and without early bleeding
  • Applied a time-dependent Cox hazard model for analysis
  • Patients with early bleeding had a higher risk of myocardial infarction (HR: 16.405)
  • Increased likelihood of unplanned urgent revascularization (HR: 4.544)
  • No significant association between early bleeding and mortality at 12 months

Study Design

Type

RCT (n=1,029)

Structured PICO

Does early bleeding increase the risk of subsequent ischemic events in patients with coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation?

P
Population
1,029 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and atrial fibrillation (AF) receiving antithrombotic therapy, with at least 3 months of follow-up (from the EPIC-CAD trial).
I
Intervention
Early bleeding (defined as any degree of bleeding occurring within 90 days after randomization)
C
Comparator
No early bleeding within 90 days
O
Outcome
Composite of ischemic events (death, ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, and urgent repeat revascularization) occurring after early bleedingcomposite

In patients with CAD and AF, early bleeding within 90 days of starting therapy is associated with a markedly increased subsequent risk of myocardial infarction and unplanned revascularization, highlighting the need for close monitoring.

Main Result

Effect estimate: HR 1.80 (95% CI 0.131-10.32)

p-value: p=0.509

Abstract

Abstract Background Bleeding events are common in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and atrial fibrillation (AF) receiving antithrombotic therapy and are known to be associated with an increased risk of clinical outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the impact of early bleeding on subsequent adverse clinical events using data from the EPIC-CAD trial. Methods In this subgroup analysis, patients with at least three months of follow-up were included. Of the original 1,040 patients, 11 who died within 90 days and were lost to follow-up were excluded, resulting in a final analytic cohort of 1,029 patients. Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared between those with early bleeding (N=61) and those without early bleeding (N=968). Early bleeding was defined as any degree of bleeding occurring within 90 days after randomization. The primary study outcomes were ischemic events (death, ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, and urgent repeat revascularization) that occurred after early bleeding. A time-dependent Cox hazard model was applied to evaluate the association between early bleeding and subsequent clinical outcomes. Results Patients with early bleeding were more likely to receive dual antithrombotic therapy, had lower creatinine clearance, and higher HAS-BLED scores compared with those without early bleeding. Overall, early bleeding was not associated with ischemic (HR 1.80, 95% CI 0.131-10.32, P=0.509) or bleeding events (HR 2.09, 95% CI 0.55 – 8.00, P=0.282). However, in a detailed sub-analysis, patients with early bleeding had a higher risk of myocardial infarction (HR: 16.405, 95% CI: 1.026–262.386, p = 0.048) and unplanned urgent revascularization (HR: 4.544, 95% CI: 1.060–19.476, p = 0.041) compared with those without early bleeding. No significant association was observed between early bleeding events and subsequent mortality. Conclusion Early bleeding events within 90 days are associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction and unplanned revascularization, but not with higher mortality at 12 months. Close monitoring and managing modifiable risk factors should be warranted for those patients with early bleeding.

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Cite This Study

An et al. (2025) conducted an RCT in Coronary artery disease and atrial fibrillation (n=1,029). Early bleeding (within 90 days after randomization) vs. No early bleeding was evaluated on Ischemic events (death, ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, and urgent repeat revascularization) that occurred after early bleeding (HR 1.80, 95% CI 0.131-10.32, p=0.509). Early bleeding within 90 days in patients with CAD and AF was not significantly associated with subsequent ischemic events (HR 1.80; 95% CI 0.131-10.32; P=0.509).

synapsesocial.com/papers/698586118f7c464f23009e4ahttps://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehaf784.3129
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Bleeding and Subsequent Cardiovascular Events and Death in Atrial Fibrillation With Stable Coronary Artery Disease: Insights From the AFIRE Trial2021 · 50 citations
  2. 2C-69 | Prognostic Impact of Bleeding on Subsequent Cardiovascular Events after Acute Coronary Syndrome or PCI in Atrial Fibrillation2024
  3. 3Characterising and predicting bleeding in high-risk patients with an acute coronary syndrome2015 · 19 citations
  4. 4Early Risks of Death, Stroke/Systemic Embolism, and Major Bleeding in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation2019 · 91 citations
  5. 5History of bleeding is associated with higher risk of cardiovascular outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation: a report from the GLORIA-AF registry phase III2025