LAUSR

Key Points Question What are the clinical outcomes among Medicare patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing left atrial appendage closure with an implanted device? Findings In this cohort study of 13 627 patients with atrial fibrillation who underwent left atrial appendage closure, the rate of hospitalization for stroke at 6 months (1.2%) was significantly lower than expected according to their CHA2DS2-VASc scores in the absence of anticoagulation therapy. The 1-year mortality rate (7.5%) was higher than that in previous randomized clinical trials, likely because of the inclusion of older patients with more comorbidities who were ineligible to receive warfarin. Meaning Left atrial appendage closure via an implanted device was associated with a decreased risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.