Anticoagulant treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation in primary health care.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of anticoagulant (AC) treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation in primary health care. To identify complications in the same patients during 1 year.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study and 1-year follow-up.


METHODS
Seven health centres with a total population of 164093.


METHODS
Five hundred and twenty-two anticoagulated patients with atrial fibrillation.


RESULTS
The age-adjusted prevalence of AC treated patients with atrial fibrillation was 0.30%. Of the 522 patients, 240 were men, mean age 69.6 years; and 282 women, mean age 75.1 years. At the beginning of the study 85% and after 1 year 81% of the latest prothrombin time values were within recommended range. After 1 year 414 out of the 522 patients continued AC treatment. During the 1-year follow-up 62 patients had minor or major complications. Eleven patients (2.1%) had to discontinue AC treatment because of complications. Prothrombin tests were mainly taken at 3-4 week intervals.


CONCLUSIONS
High quality AC treatment is possible in the hands of general practitioners.
Viitaniemi
M
M
Health Centre, Seinäjoki, Finland.
Eskola
K
K
Kurunmäki
H
H
Latva-Nevala
A
A
Wallin
A M
AM
Paloneva
M
M
Virjo
I
I
Ylinen
S
S
Ohman
S
S
Isokoski
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011787:Quality of Health Care
D000925:Anticoagulants