title: Prognostic impact of atrial fibrillation progression in a community study: AFBAR Study (Atrial Fibrillation in the Barbanza Area Study).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study is to describe the natural history of an unselected population of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) currently attending primary care services in a single health-service area in Galicia, north-western Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  AFBAR is a transverse prospective study in which 35 general practitioners within one health-service area have enrolled patients diagnosed with AF who presented at their clinics during a three-month recruiting period. Primary endpoints are mortality or hospital admission. Here we report the results of the first 7-month follow-up period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  798 patients (421 male) were recruited; mean age of cohort was 75 years old. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor (77%). 87% of the patients were both overweight and obese. Permanent AF was diagnosed in 549 patients (69%). In the follow-up period, 16.4% of the patients underwent a primary endpoint and the overall survival was 98%. The following independent determinants of primary endpoint were identified: change in AF status (Hazard Ratio (HR) 2.89 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.28-6.55); p=0.011); ischemic heart disease (IHD) (HR 2.78 (95% CI 1.51-5.13); p=0.001); pre-recruitment hospital admission (HR 2.22 (95% CI 1.18-4.19); p=0.013); left ventricular systolic dysfunction (HR 2.19 (95% CI 1.11-4.32); p=0.023); or AF-related complications (HR 1.98 (95% CI 1.10-3.56); p=0.022).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the first 7-month follow-up period of patients with AF in a primary care setting the study identified several independent risk factors for mortality or hospital admission, i.e. change in AF status, ischemic heart disease, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, previous AF-related complications and hospital admission.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Castelo
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García-Seara
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Otero-Raviña
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lado
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vizcaya
authors.forename: Juan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lafuente
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bouza
authors.forename: Pamela V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Lear
authors.forename: José R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: González-Juanatey
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology