Continued blood thinners not linked to lower stroke or death risk
After heart-pouch closure, estimated stroke risk was 4.3% with continued or restarted blood thinners versus 3.5% without them over 24 months after a six-month milestone.
Our read
Populations- Studied:
- Cohort study of 23,128 adults after left atrial appendage occlusion, 24 months after landmark
- What changed:
- Stroke risk was not lower with continued or restarted blood thinners: 4.3% versus 3.5% without them
- The catch:
- Device complications or persistent clotting risk could influence both continued blood thinner use and outcomes
- In the record:
- The 32nd paper on oral anticoagulants with results in people; 61 on record in all.
Editor of record: Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News
Among 29,554 adults who underwent left atrial appendage occlusion, a procedure that closes a small heart pouch, 23,128 survived to six months in an observational study. Researchers used prescription fills 45 to 180 days after implantation to compare 1,956 people who continued or restarted oral blood thinners with 21,172 who were off them.
At 24 months after the six-month milestone, stroke incidence was 4.3% versus 3.5%, mortality was 13.8% versus 14.0%, and major bleeding was 4.9% versus 3.8%, respectively. Adjusted analyses found no association with lower stroke, death or major bleeding risk. The ranges of likely effects included no difference. People who had already experienced a given outcome before six months were excluded from its analysis.
Why it matters
For stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat, the authors supported shared decisions and careful patient selection when considering blood thinners after this procedure.
Caveats
Clinical reasons for continuing blood thinners, such as device complications or persistent clotting risk, may have influenced the comparison despite statistical adjustment. The analysis covered six-month survivors and was reported as a conference abstract.
The paper
Centinela Hosp Med Cntr; Dr. NTR Univ of Health Sciences
AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Abstract, Nov 2, 2026
Presented at AHA Scientific Sessions 2026, abstract 14380
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