The Atrial Fibrillation in Turkey: Epidemiologic Registry [AFTER].

This study aims to evaluate stroke risk in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and anticoagulant drug utilization within conformity to AF guidelines. AFTER (Atrial Fibrillation in Turkey: Epidemiologic Registry) is a prospective, multicentre study designed with the aim of describing the prevalence and epidemiology of AF practice in Turkey.Methods; Patients were recruited in 17 referral hospitals reflecting all the population of seven geographical regions of Turkey. 2242 consecutive patients who had been admitted with AF on their electrocardiogram were included in the study. 1745 of these patients, who had non-valvular AF, were included in the statistical evaluation. Stroke risk was evaluated with the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score.Results; The average age of participants was determined to be 69.2 ± 11.5 years (56% female). Persistent-permanent AF was found to be the most common type of non-valvular AF (78%). The most common comorbid disorder was hypertension (73%). It was found that oral anticoagulant therapy was used by 40% of all patients, 37% of whom had effective INR (2.0-3.0). Upon multivariate analysis, age was found to be the only independent predictor of stroke among the variables' effects on thromboembolic events that created CHA₂DS₂-VASc abbreviations (Odds ratio 1.026; p. PMID: 23677730 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Cardiology Journal - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Cardiol J Source Type: research