Stroke Risk in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and Concomitant Cancer

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and cancer increasingly coexist as our population ages. But does the presence of cancer change the risk for stroke, or for that matter bleeding, in patients with AF? To examine this question, researchers identified health plan members in Ontario aged ≥66 with new-onset AF, comparing outcomes in matched pairs of patients with and without cancer diagnosed in the 5 years prior to AF diagnosis. Matching factors were age, sex, date of AF diagnosis, stroke risk score (CHA₂DS₂-Vasc), bleeding risk score (ATRIA), setting of diagnosis (hospitalization, emergency department, or out of hospital), and whether AF was the primary/“most responsible” diagnosis if identified during hospitalization. Study outcomes were (1) hospitaliz…