130 Improving the implementation of anti-coagulation therapy in AF patients at risk of stroke in a primary care setting

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia of the heart and is of increasing prevalence1. There are strong implications of increased stroke risk in AF patients2. In particular, AF related stroke carries a near 50% risk of persisting disability and directly increases costs for treatment by over a third in comparison with non AF stroke patients3,4. As an estimated contributing cause of 15-20% of all strokes, the economic and societal impact of AF is of extreme importance5. To monitor how efficiently stroke prevention is implemented in a primary care setting we will identify those ‘at risk’ of stroke (AF patients with a CHA2DS2VASc score of> 2) from a GP surgery in North Wales where anti-coagulation therapy has not been commenced. Of those patients, we aim to identify whether they would consider anti-coagulation.
Source: Europace - Category: Cardiology Source Type: research