In a contemporary setting among VKA-experienced NVAF patients; VKA is still prevalent although about 30% by December 2015 had shifted to a NOAC.

Background Our objective was to investigate stroke severity and subsequent rate of mortality among patients with and without atrial fibrillation (AF). Contemporary data on stroke severity and prognosis in patients with AF are lacking. Methods and Results First‐time ischemic stroke patients from the Danish Stroke Registry (January 2005–December 2016) were included in an observational study. Patients with AF were matched 1:1 by sex, age, calendar year, and CHA 2 DS 2 ‐VASc score with patients without AF. Stroke severity was determined by the Scandinavian Stroke Scale (0–58 points). The rate of death was estimated by Kaplan‐Meier plots and multivariable Cox regression. Among 86 458 identified patients with stroke, 17 205 had AF. After matching, 14 662 patients with AF and 14 662 patients without AF were included (51.8% women; median age, 79.6 years [25th–75th percentile, 71.8–86.0]). More patients with AF had very severe stroke (0–14 points) than patients without AF (13.7% versus 7.9%, P <0.01). The absolute rates of 30‐day and 1‐year mortality were significantly higher for patients with AF (12.1% and 28.4%, respectively) versus patients without AF (8.7% and 21.8%, respectively). This held true in adjusted models for 30‐day mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.40 [95% CI, 1.30–1.51]). However, this association became nonsignificant when additionally adjusting for stroke severity (HR, 1.10 [95% CI, 1.00–1.23]). AF was associated with a higher rate of 1‐year mortality (HR, 1.39 [95% CI, 1.32–1.46]), although it was mediated by stroke severity (HR, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.09–1.23], model including stroke severity). Conclusions In a contemporary nationwide cohort of patients with ischemic stroke, patients with AF had more severe strokes and higher mortality than patients without AF. The difference in mortality was mainly driven by stroke severity.

ObjectiveTo examine whether the incidence, comorbidity, and mortality of first-time ischemic stroke changed in Denmark between 1996 and 2016 overall and according to age and sex using a nationwide cohort design.MethodsIn this cohort study, 224,617 individuals ≥18 years admitted with first-time ischemic stroke between 1996 and 2016 were identified using Danish nationwide registries. We calculated annual age-standardized incidence rates and absolute 30-day and 1-year mortality risks. Further, we calculated annual incidence rate ratios using Poisson regression, odds ratios for 30-day mortality using logistic regression, and hazard ratios for 1-year mortality using Cox regression.ResultsThe overall age-standardized incidence rates of ischemic stroke per 1,000 person-years increased from 1996 (2.70 [95% CI, 2.65–2.76]) to 2002 (3.25 [95% CI, 3.20–3.31]) and then gradually decreased to below the initial level until 2016 (1.99 [95% CI, 1.95–2.02]). Men had higher incidence rates than women in all age groups except 18–34 and ≥85 years. Absolute mortality risk decreased between 1996 and 2016 (30-day mortality from 17.1% to 7.6% and 1-year mortality from 30.9% to 17.3%). Women between 55 and 64 and ≥85 years had higher mortality than men. Similar trends were observed for all analyses after multivariable adjustment. The prevalence of atrial fibrillation, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and use of lipid-lowering medication increased during the study period.ConclusionsThe age-standardized incidence of first-time hospitalization for ischemic stroke increased from 1996 to 2002 and then gradually decreased to below the initial level until 2016. Absolute 30-day and 1-year mortality risks decreased between 1996 and 2016. These findings correspond to increased stroke prevention awareness and introduction of new treatments during the study period.