Table 1 Clinical characteristics of the study patients dichotomized based on rhythm and rate-control strategy

Demographics

Age (years)

74 ± 7.2

79 ± 7.4

0.01

Male gender (n)

14 (70%)

19 (54%)

ns

White race (n)

16 (80%)

34 (97%)

ns

Died during 5-years post-Watchman® implant (n)

9 (45%)

17 (49%)

ns

Medical history

Hypertension (n)

20 (100%)

35 (100%)

ns

Diabetes mellitus (n)

9 (45%)

9 (26%)

ns

Chronic kidney disease (n)

5 (25%)

17 (49%)

ns

Peripheral arterial disease (n)

7 (35%)

14 (40%)

ns

Coronary artery disease (n)

7 (35%)

21 (60%)

ns

Obstructive sleep apnea (n)

6 (30%)

13 (37%)

ns

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (n)

6 (30%)

5 (14%)

ns

Major bleeding (5-yrs pre-Watchman® implant) (n)

13 (65%)

16 (46%)

ns

Stroke/Thrombo-embolism (5-yrs pre-Watchman® implant) (n)

3 (15%)

4 (11%)

ns

CHA₂DS₂-VASc score

5 ± 1.5

5.4 ± 1.4

ns

HAS-BLED score

3.2 ± 1.3

3.3 ± 1.1

ns

Baseline echocardiography

Left ventricular ejection fraction (%)

54 ± 15

52 ± 13

ns

LA size (cm)

4.3 ± 0.7

4.5 ± 0.8

ns

Medication use (5-yrs post-Watchman® implant)

Anti-arrhythmic use (n)

13 (65%)

9 (26%)

0.009

Length of anti-arrhythmic use (days)

920 (478–1268)

605 (346–1120)

ns

Anti-coagulant use (n)

7 (35%)

4 (11%)

ns

Length of anti-coagulant use (days)

30 (28–42)

398 (149–529)

0.01

Watchman® Data

Implanted Watchman® size (mm)

27.6 ± 3.6

28.7 ± 3.3

ns

Patients with no peri-device leak (n)

20 (100%)

4 (89%)

ns

Patients with device-related thrombus (n)

0 (0%)

1 (3%)

ns

CIED data

Pacemaker in situ (n)

14 (70%)

22 (63%)

ns

Baseline ventricular pacing burden (%)

20.75 (0.1–96.5)

75.38 (5–99)

0.04

Active rATP algorithm® (n)

20 (100%)

0 (0%)

 < 0.001

Procedures (5-yrs post-Watchman® implant)

Atrial fibrillation/flutter ablation (n)

6 (30%)

1 (3%)

0.007

Elective cardioversion (n)

8 (40%)

2 (6%)

0.002