Impact of Achieving Blood Pressure Targets and High Time in Therapeutic Range on Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Adherent to the Atrial Fibrillation Better Care Pathway: A Report From the COOL-AF Registry

Background We aimed to determine the effect of integrating Atrial Fibrillation Better Care pathway compliance in relation to achievement of systolic blood pressure (SBP) targets and good control of time in therapeutic range (TTR) on clinical outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation. Methods and Results We prospectively enrolled patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation from 27 hospitals in Thailand. All clinical outcomes were recorded. Main outcomes were the composite of all-cause death or ischemic stroke/systemic embolism (SSE), as well as secondary outcomes of all-cause death, SSE, major bleeding, intracranial hemorrhage, and heart failure. An SBP of 120 to 140 mm Hg was considered good blood pressure control. Target TTR was a TTR ≥65%. A total of 3405 patients were studied (mean age 67.8 years, 41.8% female). Full ABC pathway compliance was evident in 42.7%. For blood pressure control, 41.9% had SBP within target, whereas 35.9% of those on warfarin had TTR within target. The incidence rates of all-cause death/SSE, all-cause death, SSE, major bleeding, intracranial hemorrhage, and heart failure were 5.29, 4.21, 1.51, 2.25, 0.78, and 2.84 per 100 person-years respectively. Adjusted hazard ratios and 95% CI of Atrial Fibrillation Better Care pathway compliance for all-cause death/SSE, all-cause death, and heart failure were 0.76 (0.62-0.94), 0.79 (0.62-0.99), and 0.69 (0.51-0.94), respectively, compared with noncompliance. Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Better Care compliance and SBP within target had a better outcome or TTR within target had better outcomes. Conclusions In COOL-AF (Cohort of Antithrombotic Use and Optimal International Normalized Ratio Level in Patients With Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation in Thailand), a multicenter nationwide prospective cohort of patients with atrial fibrillation, achieving SBP within target and TTR ≥ 65% has added value to Atrial Fibrillation Better Care pathway compliance in the reduction of adverse clinical outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation.