The atrial fibrillation in Turkey: Epidemiologic Registry (AFTER)
Faruk Ertas, Nihan Kahya Eren, Hasan Kaya, Alpay Aribas, Goksel Acar, Mehmet Kanadasi, Selcuk Gedik, Mustafa Oylumlu, Murat Yuksel, Mehmet Siddik Ulgen, AFTER Investigators, Faruk Ertas, Nihan Kahya Eren, Hasan Kaya, Alpay Aribas, Goksel Acar, Mehmet Kanadasi, Selcuk Gedik, Mustafa Oylumlu, Murat Yuksel, Mehmet Siddik Ulgen, AFTER Investigators
Abstract
Background: AFTER (Atrial Fibrillation in Turkey: Epidemiologic Registry) is a prospective, multicenter study designed with the aim of describing the prevalence and epidemiology of AF practice in Turkey. This study aims to evaluate stroke risk in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and anticoagulant drug utilization within conformity to AF guidelines.
Methods: Patients were recruited in 17 referral hospitals reflecting all the population of 7 geographical regions of Turkey. 2242 consecutive patients who had been admitted with AF on ECG 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 (OR 1.026, p < 0.001).
Conclusions: These results suggest that stroke risk scores should be thoroughly heeded based on guidelines, and that anticoagulation must be applied according to their guidance.
Source: PubMed