# Atriumfibrilleren verhoogt risico op trombo-embolische gebeurtenissen, ook niet-cerebraal — EpiHealth

*geplaatst 2026-10-28 · Atriumfibrilleren · Scandinavian cardiovascular journal : SCJ · doi 10.1080/14017431.2026.2748120 · https://hartvaat.nl/2027/12/01/atriumfibrilleren-verhoogt-risico-op-trombo-embolische-gebeurtenissen-ook-niet-c/*

In de populatiegebonden EpiHealth-cohortstudie onder 22.616 volwassenen bleek dat patiënten met atriumfibrilleren (AF) een aanzienlijk hoger risico hadden op trombo-embolische gebeurtenissen vergeleken met patiënten zonder AF (5,9%, p<0,001). Hoewel driekwart van deze gebeurtenissen cerebraal was, trad ongeveer een kwart op als niet-cerebraal arterieel of veneus event. Ongeveer 40% van de trombo-embolische gebeurtenissen in de AF-groep viel samen met pas gediagnosticeerd AF, wat wijst op kansen voor vroegtijdige detectie en tijdige start van orale anticoagulatie. Deze bevindingen onderstrepen het belang van systematische AF-screening en prompt antistolling in de praktijk.

## English: Beyond stroke: atrial fibrillation and the broader burden of thromboembolic events in the population-based EpiHealth study.

In the population-based EpiHealth cohort study of 22,616 adults, atrial fibrillation (AF) was associated with a significantly higher incidence of thromboembolic events compared to those without AF (5.9%, p<0.001). While most events were cerebral, approximately 25% were non-cerebral arterial or venous, and 40% occurred in patients with newly diagnosed AF. This highlights a substantial thromboembolic burden beyond stroke and underscores the potential benefit of earlier AF detection and timely anticoagulation. These findings support proactive screening and prompt initiation of oral anticoagulants in clinical practice.

## Abstract (original, from the publication)

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the distribution and risk of thromboembolic events (TEs) among adults with and without atrial fibrillation (AF), and to assess oral anticoagulant (OAC) use over time. DESIGN: This population-based longitudinal cohort study included EpiHealth participants recruited between April 2011 and December 2016 and followed through linkage to Swedish health data registers from baseline until the first TE, death, or December 31, 2016. RESULTS: At baseline, 873 of 22,616 participants (3.9%) had AF and 297 developed incident AF during follow-up. 484 participants experienced at least one TE during 70,587 person-years. Participants with AF had higher TE incidence (68 events, 5.9%; p < 0.001), predominantly arterial (73.5%), with 94% of arterial events involving the cerebral circulation. Approximately one quarter of TEs among participants with AF occurred outside the cerebral circulation and comprised both venous and non-cerebral arterial events. Although participants with incident AF represented less than one quarter of participants with AF, they accounted for 40% of TEs in the AF group. OAC use increased from 39.0% to 50.4%, with a shift from predominantly warfarin to direct oral anticoagulants. In time-dependent Cox regression adjusted for age, sex, and prior arterial thromboembolism, untreated AF was associated with increased thromboembolic risk compared with no AF (HR 2.53), whereas OAC use was associated with lower risk. CONCLUSIONS: AF was associated with substantially increased thromboembolic risk, predominantly arterial in nature. One in five TEs among participants with AF coincided with newly diagnosed AF, suggesting potential opportunities for earlier AF detection and timely initiation of anticoagulant treatment.

Auteurs: Pernilla Höiby, Moncef Zarrouk, Lars Lind, Rani Basna, Marie Claire Overton, Sölve Elmståhl

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Bron: Scandinavian cardiovascular journal : SCJ, https://doi.org/10.1080/14017431.2026.2748120. Bijgewerkt 2026-10-22T00:47:00Z. Citeer vrij, met bronvermelding en een link naar hartvaat.nl (de url van het record). Samenvattingen zijn redactioneel werk van HartVaat; de oorspronkelijke publicaties blijven van hun uitgevers (doi). Geen medisch advies.