Are atrial fibrillation guidelines altering management? A community based study.
OBJECTIVE
We wanted to determine the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in a community based cross sectional study in greater Glasgow and how current anti-thrombotic management compares to published guidelines.


METHODS
1466 patients with AF were identified in General Practices in our community and 1008 consented to take part. Their demographic details and medical history were recorded.


RESULTS
1466 patients (mean age 73.4; 55% female) with AF were identified, in our community, giving a prevalence of 1%. 53% of patients were on warfarin therapy. Of those not receiving warfarin, only one third had a putative contra-indication. The proportion ofAF patients on warfarin increased with increasing stroke risk, and over the period of the study.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence of AF was in keeping with previous estimates. The proportion of patients with AF receiving warfarin therapy appears to be increasing. In the moderate risk group, there was a tendency to use more warfarin in the younger age groups compared to the elderly. It was in the moderate and low risk groups that there was still evidence of deviation from published guidelines.
Murdoch
D L
DL
Department of Cardiology, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland. david.murdoch@sgh.scot.nhs.uk
O'Neill
K
K
Jackson
J
J
McMahon
A
A
Rumley
A
A
Wallace
I
I
Lowe
G D O
GD
Tait
R C
RC
D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin