Vol 20, No 4 (2013)
Original articles
Published online: 2013-07-26
The Atrial Fibrillation in Turkey: Epidemiologic Registry (AFTER)
DOI: 10.5603/CJ.a2013.0055
Cardiol J 2013;20(4):447-452.
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 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.
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 fibrillationstrokeanticoagulantepidemiology
