Abstract P649: Extracranial Hemorrhage in the Setting of Gastrointestinal Or Genitourinary Cancer is Associated With Increased Risk of Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Anticoagulation therapy reduces the risk for ischemic stroke in atrial fibrillation (AF) but also predisposes patients to hemorrhagic complications. Patients with GI or GU cancer and AF are at higher risk of bleeding complications with anticoagulation therapy. There is limited knowledge on the risk of first-ever ischemic stroke in AF patients after extracranial hemorrhage (ECH) in patients with gastrointestinal or genitourinary (GI/GU) cancer. We conducted a retrospective study using the California State Inpatient Database (SID) including all non-federal hospital admissions in California from 2005-2011. The exposure variable was hospitalization with a diagnosis of ECH with a previous diagnosis of AF. The outcome variable was a subsequent hospitalization with acute ischemic stroke. We excluded patients with stroke prior to or at the time of ECH diagnosis. We calculated adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for ischemic stroke during follow up and at 6-month intervals using Cox regression models adjusted for pertinent demographics and co-morbidities and stratifying patients with ECH based on the presence/absence of a GI/GU cancer. We identified 764,257 AF patients (mean age 75 years, 49% women) without a documented history of stroke. Of these, 98,647 (13%) had an ECH-associated hospitalization, and 22,748 patients (3%) developed an ischemic stroke during a mean follow up. Compared to non-ECH patients, patients with ECH in the setting of a GI/GU cancer had a significantly higher risk of incident ischemic stroke (adjusted HR 1.40, 95% CI 1.20-1.64).Whereas there was only a modest increase in ischemic stroke risk in those without GI/GU cancer (adjusted HR 1.09 95% CI 1.05-1.13). AF patients hospitalized with ECH in the setting of GI/GU cancer have a particularly high risk of incident ischemic stroke. Particular consideration should be given to the optimal balance between the benefits and risks of anticoagulation therapy and the use of non-anticoagulant alternatives such as left atrial appendage closure in this vulnerable population.

Duke Scholars

Author Brian C. Mac Grory Neurology, Stroke and Vascular Neurology