Background and objectives: The risk of major bleeding after percutaneous native kidney biopsy is usually considered low but remains poorly predictable. The aim of the study was to assess the risk of major bleeding and to build a preprocedure bleeding risk score. Design, setting, participants, & measurements: Our study was a retrospective cohort study in all 52,138 patients who had a percutaneous native kidney biopsy in France in the 2010–2018 period. Measurements included major bleeding (i.e., blood transfusions, hemorrhage/hematoma, angiographic intervention, or nephrectomy) at day 8 after biopsy and risk of death at day 30. Exposures and outcomes were defined by diagnosis codes. Results: Major bleeding occurred in 2765 of 52,138 (5%) patients (blood transfusions: 5%; angiographic intervention: 0.4%; and nephrectomy: 0.1%). Nineteen diagnoses were associated with major bleeding. A bleeding risk score was calculated (Charlson index [2–4: +1; 5 and 6: +2; >6: +3]; frailty index [1.5–4.4: +1; 4.5–9.5: +2; >9.5: +3]; women: +1; dyslipidemia: −1; obesity: −1; anemia: +8; thrombocytopenia: +2; cancer: +2; abnormal kidney function: +4; glomerular disease: −1; vascular kidney disease: −1; diabetic kidney disease: −1; autoimmune disease: +2; vasculitis: +5; hematologic disease: +2; thrombotic microangiopathy: +4; amyloidosis: −2; other kidney diagnosis: −1) + a constant of 5. The risk of bleeding went from 0.4% (lowest score group =0–4 points) to 33% (highest score group ≥35 points). Major bleeding was an independent risk of death (500 of 52,138 deaths: bleeding: 81 of 2765 [3%]; no bleeding: 419 of 49,373 [0.9%]; odds ratio, 1.95; 95% confidence interval, 1.50 to 2.54; P<0.001). Conclusions: The risk of major bleeding after percutaneous native kidney biopsy may be higher than generally thought and is associated with a twofold higher risk of death. It varies widely but can be estimated with a score useful for shared decision making and procedure choice.

Background: Clinical complexity, as the interaction between ageing, frailty, multimorbidity and polypharmacy, is an increasing concern in patients with AF. There remains uncertainty regarding how combinations of comorbidities influence management and prognosis of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to identify phenotypes of AF patients according to comorbidities and to assess associations between comorbidity patterns, drug use and risk of major outcomes. Methods: From the prospective GLORIA-AF Registry, we performed a latent class analysis based on 18 diseases, encompassing cardiovascular, metabolic, respiratory and other conditions; we then analysed the association between phenotypes of patients and (i) treatments received and (ii) the risk of major outcomes. Primary outcome was the composite of all-cause death and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Secondary exploratory outcomes were also analysed. Results: 32,560 AF patients (mean age 70.0 ± 10.5 years, 45.4% females) were included. We identified 6 phenotypes: (i) low complexity (39.2% of patients); (ii) cardiovascular (CV) risk factors (28.2%); (iii) atherosclerotic (10.2%); (iv) thromboembolic (8.1%); (v) cardiometabolic (7.6%) and (vi) high complexity (6.6%). Higher use of oral anticoagulants was found in more complex groups, with highest magnitude observed for the cardiometabolic and high complexity phenotypes (odds ratio and 95% confidence interval CI): 1.76 [1.49–2.09] and 1.57 [1.35–1.81], respectively); similar results were observed for beta-blockers and verapamil or diltiazem. We found higher risk of the primary outcome in all phenotypes, except the CV risk factor one, with highest risk observed for the cardiometabolic and high complexity groups (hazard ratio and 95%CI: 1.37 [1.13–1.67] and 1.47 [1.24–1.75], respectively). Conclusions: Comorbidities influence management and long-term prognosis of patients with AF. Patients with complex phenotypes may require comprehensive and holistic approaches to improve their prognosis.

Maintenance of atrial fibrillation is a complex mechanism, including extensive electrical and structural remodeling of the atria which involves progressive fibrogenesis. Galectin-3 is a biomarker of fibrosis, and, thus, may be involved in atrial remodeling in atrial fibrillation patients. We review the role of galectin-3 in AF mechanisms and its potential therapeutic implications.

Aims: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may influence management and prognosis of atrial fibrillation (AF), but this relationship has been scarcely explored in contemporary global cohorts. We aimed to investigate the association between AF and COPD, in relation to treatment patterns and major outcomes. Methods and results: From the prospective, global GLORIA-AF registry, we analysed factors associated with COPD diagnosis, as well as treatment patterns and risk of major outcomes in relation to COPD. The primary outcome was the composite of all-cause death and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). A total of 36 263 patients (mean age 70.1 ± 10.5 years, 45.2% females) were included; 2,261 (6.2%) had COPD. The prevalence of COPD was lower in Asia and higher in North America. Age, female sex, smoking, body mass index, and cardiovascular comorbidities were associated with the presence of COPD. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was associated with higher use of oral anticoagulant (OAC) [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.29 (1.13–1.47)] and higher OAC discontinuation [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) and 95% CI: 1.12 (1.01–1.25)]. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was associated with less use of beta-blocker [aOR (95% CI): 0.79 (0.72–0.87)], amiodarone and propafenone, and higher use of digoxin and verapamil/diltiazem. Patients with COPD had a higher hazard of primary composite outcome [aHR (95% CI): 1.78 (1.58–2.00)]; no interaction was observed regarding beta-blocker use. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was also associated with all-cause death [aHR (95% CI): 2.01 (1.77–2.28)], MACEs [aHR (95% CI): 1.41 (1.18–1.68)], and major bleeding [aHR (95% CI): 1.48 (1.16–1.88)]. Conclusion: In AF patients, COPD was associated with differences in OAC treatment and use of other drugs; Patients with AF and COPD had worse outcomes, including higher mortality, MACE, and major bleeding.

Background and Purpose: Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) have high risk of ischemic stroke (IS), especially if atrial fibrillation (AF) is present. Improvements in risk stratification are needed to help identify those patients with HCM at higher risk of stroke, whether AF is present or not. Methods: This French longitudinal cohort study from the database covering hospital care from 2010 to 2019 analyzed adults hospitalized with isolated HCM. A logistic regression model was used to construct a French HCM score, which was compared with the HCM Risk-CVA and CHA ₂ DS ₂ -VASc scores using c-indexes and calibration analysis. Results: In 32 206 patients with isolated HCM, 12 498 (38.8%) had AF, and 2489 (7.7%) sustained an IS during follow-up. AF in patients with HCM was independently associated with a higher risk for death (hazard ratio, 1.129 [95% CI, 1.088–1.172]), cardiovascular death (hazard ratio, 1.254 [95% CI, 1.177–1.337]), IS (hazard ratio, 1.210 [95% CI, 1.111–1.317]), and other major cardiovascular events. Independent predictors of IS in HCM were older age, heart failure, AF, prior IS, smoking and poor nutrition (all P <0.05). For the HCM Risk-CVA score, CHA ₂ DS ₂ -VASc score and a French HCM score, all c-indexes were 0.65 to 0.70, with good calibration. Among patients with AF, the CHA ₂ DS ₂ -VASc score had marginal improvement over the HCM Risk-CVA score but was less predictive compared with the French HCM score ( P =0.001). In patients without AF, both HCM Risk-CVA score and the French HCM score had significantly better prediction compared with CHA ₂ DS ₂ -VASc (both P <0.0001). Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the French HCM score had the best clinical usefulness of the 3 tested risk scores. Conclusions: Patients with HCM have a high prevalence of AF and a significant risk of IS, and the presence of AF in patients with HCM was independently associated with worse outcomes. A simple French HCM score shows good prediction of IS in patients with HCM and clinical usefulness, with good calibration.