Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Frequency of Thromboembolic Events, Bleeding, and Mortality in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation and End-Stage Renal Disease Undergoing Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are closely related conditions that increase the risk of disability, stroke, and mortality. Anticoagulation management in patients with ESRD and AF is challenging due to the high risk of bleeding. Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) has emerged as an alternative to reduce thromboembolic events; however, evidence in this specific population remains limited. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the frequency of thromboembolic events, bleeding complications and mortality in patients with AF and ESRD undergoing LAAC through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420250640241). A structured search was performed in Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, SCOPUS, LILACs and institutional repositories through September 2024, with no language restrictions. We included original studies reporting frequencies of thromboembolic events, bleeding and mortality in patients with AF and ESRD undergoing LAAC. A random-effects model was used and heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. Results: Fourteen studies were included in the qualitative analysis and seven in the quantitative synthesis, comprising a total of 2433 patients with AF and ESRD undergoing LAAC. In the qualitative analysis, the mean age was 74 ± 7.6 years; the most common comorbidities were hypertension (74%), diabetes mellitus (47%), and dyslipidemia (53%). Watchman™ devices predominated in North America, whereas Amulet™ devices were more frequently used in Europe and Latin America. Procedural success was 98.4%, with infrequent periprocedural complications: major bleeding in 1.6% and device embolization in 0.5%. In the quantitative analysis, the pooled frequency of thromboembolic events was 3% (95% CI: 1–7%; I2 = 81.1%), pooled bleeding frequency was 6% (95% CI: 4–10%; I2 = 76.9%), and pooled mortality was 5% (95% CI: 1–22%; I2 = 97.8%). After excluding studies with extreme values, adjusted mortality was 2% (95% CI: 1–5%; I2 = 76.6%). Despite high heterogeneity, the findings suggest that LAAC may offer protection against embolic events with an acceptable bleeding risk. Conclusions: LAAC in patients with AF and ESRD is associated with a low frequency of thromboembolic events and bleeding when compared with standard anticoagulation therapy and no treatment. Overall mortality is moderate and appears to be primarily attributable to underlying comorbidity rather than the procedure itself. This meta-analysis provides evidence that LAAC may be a safe and effective therapeutic strategy in patients with contraindications or high risk for chronic anticoagulation. However, prospective and comparative clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings and inform future clinical practice guidelines.