Cardiovascular Outcomes and Readmissions of Atrial Fibrillation Among Patent Foramen Ovale Occluder Device Recipients: A Propensity Matched National Readmission Study

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) occluder devices are increasingly utilized in minimally invasive procedures used to treat cryptogenic stroke. Data on the impact of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) among PFO occluder device recipients are limited. The Nationwide Readmissions Database was queried between 2016 and 2019 to identify PFO patients with and without AF. The two groups were compared using propensity score matching (PSM) and multivariate regression models. The outcomes included in-hospital mortality, acute kidney injury (AKI), Mechanical circulatory support use (MCS), Cardiogenic shock (CS), acute ischemic stroke, bleeding, and other cardiovascular outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA v. 17. Out of 6,508 Weighted hospitalizations for PFO occluder device procedure over the study period, 877 (13.4%) had AF compared to 5,631 (86.6%) who did not. On adjusted analysis, PFO with AF group had higher rates of MCS (PSM, 4.5% vs. 2.2 %, p value=0.011) and SCA (PSM, 7.6% vs. 4.6 %, p value=0.015) compared to PFO with no AF. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of in-hospital mortality (PSM, 5.4% vs. 6.4 %, p value=0.39), CS (PSM, 8.3% vs. 5.9 %, p value=0.075), AKI (PSM, 32.4% vs. 32.3 %, p value=0.96), bleeding (PSM, 2.08% vs. 1.3 %, p value=0.235) or the readmission rates among both cohorts. Additionally, AF was associated with higher hospital length of stay (9.5 +/-13.2 vs. 8.2 +/-24.3 days, p-value =0.012) and total cost ($66,513+/-$80,922 vs. $52,013+/-$125,136, 0.025, p-value = 0.025) compared to PFO without AF. AF among PFO occluder device recipients is associated with increased adverse outcomes, including MCS use and SCA, with no difference in mortality and readmission rates among both cohorts. Long-term follow-up needs further studies.