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Multimorbid management in atrial fibrillation: The Polish perspective in the EHRA-PATHS study
Affiliations- Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, King's College London, London, UK
- Head of Arrhythmia Unit, Department of Cardiology, Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Interior and Administration, Warszawa, Poland
- Emergency Department, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London, UK
- Department of Heart Arrhythmia, National Institute of Cardiology, Warszawa, Poland
- Department of Cardiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
- Department of Coronary Disease and Cardiac Rehabilitation, National Institute of Cardiology, Warszawa, Poland
- Department of Cardiology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
- Research Group Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Heart Center Hasselt, Jessa Hospital, Hasselt, Belgium
- La Paz University Hospital, IDIPAZ, Universidad Autonoma, Madrid, Spain
- Tallaght University Hospital , Department of Gerontology, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and places a significant burden on individuals as well as the healthcare system. AF management requires a multidisciplinary approach in which tackling comorbidities is an important aspect.
AIMS: To evaluate how multimorbidity is currently assessed and managed and to determine if interdisciplinary care is undertaken.
METHODS: A 21-item online survey was undertaken over four weeks as part of the EHRA-PATHS study examining comorbidities in Atrial Fibrillation and distributed to European Heart Rhythm Association members in Europe.
RESULTS: A total of 341 eligible responses were received of which 35 (10%) were from Polish physicians. Compared to other European locations, the rates of specialist services and referrals varied but were not significantly different. However, there were higher numbers of specialised services reported in Poland compared to the rest of Europe for hypertension (57% vs. 37%; P = 0.02) and palpitations/arrhythmias (63% vs. 41%; P = 0.01) and the rates of sleep apnea services tended to be lower (20% vs. 34%; P = 0.10) and comprehensive geriatric care (14% vs. 36%; P = 0.01). The only statistical difference between Poland and the rest of Europe in reasons for referral rates was the barrier relating to insurance and financial reasons (31% vs. 11%; P <0.01, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: There is a clear need for an integrated approach to patients with AF and associated comorbidities. Prepardeness of Polish physicians to deliver such care seems to be similar to other European countries but may be hampered by financial obstacles.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and places a significant burden on individuals as well as the healthcare system. AF management requires a multidisciplinary approach in which tackling comorbidities is an important aspect.
AIMS: To evaluate how multimorbidity is currently assessed and managed and to determine if interdisciplinary care is undertaken.
METHODS: A 21-item online survey was undertaken over four weeks as part of the EHRA-PATHS study examining comorbidities in Atrial Fibrillation and distributed to European Heart Rhythm Association members in Europe.
RESULTS: A total of 341 eligible responses were received of which 35 (10%) were from Polish physicians. Compared to other European locations, the rates of specialist services and referrals varied but were not significantly different. However, there were higher numbers of specialised services reported in Poland compared to the rest of Europe for hypertension (57% vs. 37%; P = 0.02) and palpitations/arrhythmias (63% vs. 41%; P = 0.01) and the rates of sleep apnea services tended to be lower (20% vs. 34%; P = 0.10) and comprehensive geriatric care (14% vs. 36%; P = 0.01). The only statistical difference between Poland and the rest of Europe in reasons for referral rates was the barrier relating to insurance and financial reasons (31% vs. 11%; P <0.01, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: There is a clear need for an integrated approach to patients with AF and associated comorbidities. Prepardeness of Polish physicians to deliver such care seems to be similar to other European countries but may be hampered by financial obstacles.
Keywords
atrial fibrillation, comoribidities, older people, survey
About this articleTitle
Multimorbid management in atrial fibrillation: The Polish perspective in the EHRA-PATHS study
Journal
Kardiologia Polska (Polish Heart Journal)
Issue
Article type
Original article
Published online
2023-03-16
Page views
7
Article views/downloads
14
DOI
10.33963/KP.a2023.0069
Pubmed
Keywords
atrial fibrillation
comoribidities
older people
survey
Authors
Geraldine A Lee
Michał M Farkowski
Edward Baker
Maciej Sterliński
Isabelle C van Gelder
Rafal Dąbrowski
Lien Desteghe
Łukasz Szumowski
Jose L Merino
Ronan Collins
Michiel Rienstra
Hein Heidbuchel
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