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The Atrial Fibrillation in Turkey: Epidemiologic Registry (AFTER)
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Abstract
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 fi brillation
(AF) and anticoagulant drug utilization within conformity to AF guidelines.
Methods: Patients were recruited in 17 referral hospitals refl ecting 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.
Abstract
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 fi brillation
(AF) and anticoagulant drug utilization within conformity to AF guidelines.
Methods: Patients were recruited in 17 referral hospitals refl ecting 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.
Keywords
Atrial fibrillation, stroke, anticoagulant, epidemiology
About this articleTitle
The Atrial Fibrillation in Turkey: Epidemiologic Registry (AFTER)
Journal
Issue
Pages
447-452
Published online
2013-07-26
Page views
2169
Article views/downloads
2452
DOI
10.5603/CJ.a2013.0055
Bibliographic record
Cardiol J 2013;20(4):447-452.
Keywords
Atrial fibrillation
stroke
anticoagulant
epidemiology
Authors
Faruk Ertas
Nihan Kahya Eren
Hasan Kaya
Alpay Aribas
Goksel Acar
Mehmet Kanadasi
Selcuk Gedik
Mustafa Oylumlu
Murat Yuksel
Mehmet Siddik Ulgen
