Nephroprotective and anticoagulant therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation and chronic kidney disease: real-world data

Aim . To assess the compliance of nephroprotective and anticoagulant therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) with modern clinical guidelines. Material and methods . The study included patients with CKD in combination with AF and in sinus rhythm. Clinical characteristics were retrospectively assessed, as were the use of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASi), statins, sodium-glucose transporter type 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) and oral anticoagulants (OAC). Results . A total of 464 patients (aged 66-80 years) were divided retrospectively in two subgroups — with and without AF. AF was detected in 210 (45.3%) patients. Patients from the subgroup with AF were significantly older (75 vs 72 years, p=0.001), more often had type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (28.6% vs 20.5%, p=0.042), coronary artery disease (CAD) (40.5% vs 30.7%, p=0.028) and chronic heart failure (CHF). (57.6% vs 22.8%, p<0.001). Mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) according to Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation was lower (46 vs 51 ml/min/1.73 m 2 , p<0.001) in patients with AF compared with the group without AF. ACE inhibitors (ACEi) were prescribed in 127 cases (27.4%), angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) — in 227 (49%), angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) — 33 (7.1%), statins — 362 (78%), SGLT2i — 63 (13.6%), direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) — 203 (43.8%) and warfarin — in 10 cases (2.2%). In those patients in whom SGLT2i was prescribed, eGFR according to the CKD-EPI equation was significantly lower (47 vs 49 ml/min/1.73 m 2 , p=0.043). In patients with T2DM, SGLT-2i-2 was prescribed in 33.9% of cases, in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (CHFrEF) — in 68.4% of cases. In 196 patients with AF, DOACs were prescribed, in 10 cases — warfarin. Conclusion . Most patients with CKD receive nephroprotective therapy with RASi and statins according to current KDIGO guidelines. A significant proportion of patients with CHFrEF receive SGLT-2i, but only a third of patients with T2DM and CKD received SGLT-2i therapy.