Non-valvular atrial fibrillation in the elderly; preliminary results from the National AFTER (Atrial Fibrillation in Turkey: Epidemiologic Registry) Study

F. Ertas, M. Oylumlu, M.A. Akil, H. Acet, M.Z. Bilik, T. Celepkolu, A. Yildiz, H. Kaya, S. Alan, H. Özhan; for the AFTER investigators

Department of Cardiology, Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, Diyarbakir, Turkey. farukertas@hotmail.com

 

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• Cardiology

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at the assessment of the clinical approach to atrial fibrillation (AF) in the older population and the consistency with the guidelines based on the records of the multicenter, prospective AFTER (Atrial Fibrillation in Turkey: Epidemiologic Registry) study.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: 2242 consecutive patients admitted to the Cardiology Outpatient Clinics of 17 different tertiary Health Care Centers with at least one AF attack determined on electrocardiographic examination, were included in the study. Among the patients included in the study, 631 individuals aged 75 years and older were analyzed.

RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was determined as 80.3±4.2 years. The most frequent type of AF in geriatric population was the persistent-permanent type with a percentage of 88%. 60% of the patients with AF were female. Hypertension was the most common co-morbidity in patients with AF (76%). While in 16% of patients a history of stroke, transient ischemic attack or systemic thromboembolism was present, a history of bleeding was present in 14% of the patients. 37% of the patients were on warfarin treatment and 60% of the patients were on aspirin treatment. In 38% of the patients who were on oral anticoagulant treatment, INR level was in the effective range.

CONCLUSIONS: The rate of anticoagulant use in the elderly with AF was 37% and considering the reason of this situation was the medication not being prescribed by the physician, one should pay more attention particularly in the field of treatment.

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