Treatment and follow-up procedure

Based on the MISSION-AF database, we analyzed the effect of platelet count on frequencies of bleeding events in NVAF patients. In present study, we only analyzed the 3-month follow-up date, because the study population included some NVAF patients with CHA2DS2-VASc scores of 0 for men and 1 for women. Anticoagulation only needs to be maintained for only 8 weeks after ablation for these patients (12). Any decisions to continue anticoagulation with dabigatran after the 3-month follow-up period were based on the guidelines (12) and at the professional physician’s discretion. In addition, the risk for bleeding events with dabigatran was highest during the first 90 days of treatment (13,14). A total of 576 NVAF patients treated with dabigatran completed the 3 months of follow-ups.