The incidence of atrial fibrillation, new oral anticoagulation, stroke, and significant bleeds in patients receiving a new dual-chamber pacemaker.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Atrial fibrillation and flutter (AF/AFL) can be easily detected in patients who have a dual-chamber pacemaker (PM). This can result in a high detection rate of these arrhythmias especially if patients are monitored remotely and detection limits are sensitive.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single-center retrospective registry analysis of 1,285 consecutive AF/AFL and anticoagulation naïve patients from a limited geographical area undergoing implantation of a new dual-chamber PM (between 2013 and 2019). Seven-year follow-up data for incident AF/AFL, initiation of new oral anticoagulation and for incident strokes and bleeds was obtained from an in-depth review of all relevant patient records including written medical records and death certificates detailing causes of death.

RESULTS: During the follow-up, mortality reached 22.2 % and cumulative incidence of AF/AFL, new anticoagulation, strokes, and bleeds were 52.6 %, 40.4 %, 4.7 % and 10.4 %. In 92.6 % of the cases, AF/AFL was discovered by PM. Remote monitoring was initiated in 67 % (n = 856). Risk factor adjusted mortality in this group was significantly lower when compared to patients in regular out-patient clinic controls (HR 0.45, 95 % CI 0.35-0.57). Despite of their better overall prognosis, the AF/AFL was discovered, and oral anticoagulation was initiated more often in remote monitoring group (HR 1.58, 95 % CI 1.23-1.79 for AF/AFL and HR 1.67, 95 % CI 1.33-2.09 for anticoagulation). There was no significant difference in the incidence of strokes or bleeds.

CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of new AF/AFL is high in this population. Remote monitoring is associated with higher diagnostic yields of AF/AFL and initiated anticoagulation, but not with stroke and significant bleeds.