title: Atrial fibrillation in a primary care population: how close to NICE guidelines are we?
abstract: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation were published in June 2006. It was anticipated that they would potentially lead to increased demand for echocardiography (ECHO), increased access to secondary care services (for example for cardioversion), and require additional resources for monitoring anticoagulation. A primary care survey was therefore initiated in South Devon, in advance of publication of the guidelines as a snapshot of existing practice, to determine any additional resources and education required to meet the new standards. The main aim was to determine what proportion of patients were managed exclusively in primary care, how frequently patients were investigated by ECHO and whether anticoagulation was being appropriately targeted at patients at high risk of thromboembolic events.
authors.affiliation: South West Cardiothoracic Centre, Department of Cardiology, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth. bloo@nhs.net
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Loo
authors.forename: Cath
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parnell
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brook
authors.forename: Ed
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Southall
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mahy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018570:Risk Assessment; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants