These results showed that AF is an independent risk factor for MI , CV death , and CV events
This study aim ed to investigate whether  atrial fibrillation ( AF ) predicts myocardial infa rct ion ( MI ) or cardiovascular ( CV ) death .
AF is a well-established risk factor for thrombotic stroke and all-cause mortality .
Prevalence, clinical profile, and cardiovascular outcomes of atrial fibrillation patients with atherothrombosis.
BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation ( AF ) is a major risk factor ( RF ) for ischemic stroke . Its prevalence and prognostic impact in patients with atherothrombosis are unclear . METHODS Risk factors , drug usage , and 1-year cardiovascular ( CV ) outcomes ( CV death , myocardial infa rct ion [ MI ] , and stroke ) were compared in  AF and non-AF patients from the REduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health ( REACH ) Registry , an international , prospect i ve cohort of 68,236 stable out patients with established atherothrombosis or > or=3 atherothrombotic RFs . RESULTS Atrial fibrillation and 1-year follow-up data are available for 63,589 patients . The prevalence of AF was , 12.5 % , 13.7 % , 11.5 % , and 6.2 % among coronary artery disease , CV disease , peripheral artery disease , and RF-only patients , respectively . Of the 6,814 patients with AF , 6.7 % experienced CV death , nonfatal MI , or nonfatal stroke within a year . The annual incidence of nonfatal stroke ( 2.4 % vs 1.6 % , P<.0001 ) and unstable angina ( 6.0 % vs 4.0 % , P<.00001 ) was higher , and CV death was more than double ( 3.2 % vs 1.4 % , P<.0001 ) , in AF versus non-AF patients . In these patients with or at high risk of atherothrombosis , most patients with AF received antiplatelet agents , but only 53.1 % were treated with oral anticoagulants . Even with high CHADS2 ( congestive heart failure , hypertension , aging , diabetes mellitus , and stroke ) scores , anticoagulant use did not exceed ( 59 % ) . The rate of bleeding requiring hospitalization was higher in AF versus non-AF patients ( 1.5 % vs 0.8 % , P<.0001 ) , possibly related to the more frequent use of anticoagulants ( 53.1 % vs 7.1 % ) . CONCLUSIONS Atrial fibrillation is common in patients with atherothrombosis , associated with more frequent fatal and nonfatal CV outcomes , and underuse of oral anticoagulants
These results showed that AF is an independent risk factor for MI , CV death , and CV events
This study aim ed to investigate whether  atrial fibrillation ( AF ) predicts myocardial infa rct ion ( MI ) or cardiovascular ( CV ) death .
AF is a well-established risk factor for thrombotic stroke and all-cause mortality .