title: The RecordAF study: design, baseline data, and profile of patients according to chosen treatment strategy for atrial fibrillation.
abstract: The REgistry on Cardiac rhythm disORDers assessing the control of Atrial Fibrillation (RecordAF) is the first worldwide, 1-year observational, longitudinal study of the management of paroxysmal/persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) in recently diagnosed patients. The study was conducted at 532 sites in 21 countries across Europe, America, and Asia; recruitment was completed in April 2008. The primary objectives were to prospectively assess the therapeutic success and clinical outcomes in rhythm- and rate-control strategies. The study design and patient baseline data are reported. A total of 5,814 patients with AF were registered, and 5,604 were eligible for evaluation. Rhythm- and rate-control strategies were applied to 55% and 45% of patients, respectively, at study inclusion. Rhythm-control patients mainly received class III agents (45%) or beta blockers (51%), except for sotalol, and rate-control patients mainly received beta blockers (72%), except for sotalol, or cardiac glycosides (34%). Patients receiving a rhythm-control strategy were younger, had a lower resting heart rate, were more frequently symptomatic, and were more likely to have recently diagnosed AF or paroxysmal AF compared to patients receiving a rate-control strategy. A rate-control strategy was more common in patients with a history of heart failure or valvular heart disease and persistent AF. Rate-control patients more often had previous electrocardiographic evidence of AF and were not in sinus rhythm at inclusion (p <0.01 for both end points). Patients were followed at 6 and 12 months, and changes in therapeutic strategy and clinical outcomes were recorded. In conclusion, the RecordAF study results will provide a global perspective on current AF treatment strategies.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Georges Pompidou-APHP, University Paris V, Paris, France. jean-yves.le-heuzey@egp.aphp.fr
authors.forename: Jean-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Le Heuzey
authors.forename: Günter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Breithardt
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Camm
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Crijns
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dorian
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Kowey
authors.forename: Ihsen
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Merioua
authors.forename: Eric N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Prystowsky
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Torp-Pedersen
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Weintraub
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002301:Cardiac Glycosides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012042:Registries; D012107:Research Design
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D002301:Cardiac Glycosides