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Factors Associated with Anticoagulation Initiation for New Atrial Fibrillation in an Urban Emergency Department.

Objective
To explore factors associated with anticoagulation (AC) initiation after atrial fibrillation (AF) diagnosis.


Design
Retrospective cohort study.


Setting
Urban medical center.


Patients
Adults with emergency department (ED) diagnosis of new onset AF from 1/1/2017-1/1/2020 discharged home.


Methods
We compared patients initiated on AC, our primary outcome, to those not initiated on AC. Stroke, major bleeding, and AC initiation within 1 year of visit were secondary outcomes. We hypothesized that minority race and non-English language preference are associated with failure to initiate AC.


Results
Of 111 patients with AF, 88 met inclusion criteria. Mean age was 65 (SD 15); 47 (53%) were women. 49 (56%) patients were initiated on AC. Age (61 vs 68 years; P=.02), non-English language (28% vs 10%; P=.03), leaving ED against medical advice (AMA) (36% vs 14%; P=.04), and CHA2DS2-VASc score of 1 (41% vs 6%; P<=.001) were associated with no AC initiation. There were no associations between patient-reported race/ethnicity and AC. Cardiology consultation (83.67% vs 30.78%; P<.0001) and higher median CHA2DS2-VASc score (3[2-4]) vs. 2[1-4]; P=.047) were associated with AC. Of 73 patients with follow-up data at 1 year, 2 (8%) not initiated on AC had strokes, 2 (4%) initiated on AC had major bleeds, and 15 (62.5%) not initiated on AC in the ED subsequently were initiated on AC.


Conclusion
More than half of ED patients with new AF eligible for AC were initiated on it. Work to improve AC utilization among patients with new AF who left AMA from ED and those who prefer to communicate in a non-English language may be warranted.