title: Anticoagulation prescription in atrial fibrillation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We seek to assess the factors associated with the anticoagulation prescription in a cohort of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) collected from out-patient clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1524 patients with a history of AF were collected from out-patients clinics. CHADS(2), CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc and HAS-BLED scores were calculated in every patient. Variables associated with anticoagulant treatment prescription were analyzed in univariant and multivariant models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most patients received either anticoagulant (62%) or antiplatelet treatment (37%). Anticoagulation rates increased among higher CHADS(2) and CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score values. A logistic regression model was performed to assess the variables associated with the prescription of anticoagulant treatment; the variables with stronger association were the presence of arrhythmia at the current visit (odds ratio (OR) 33, 95% CI 27-40, p<0.001) and lack of concomitant antiplatelet treatment (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.14-0.21, p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although prognosis of patients with AF is mainly determined by the long-term thrombotic risk, the prescription of antithrombotic therapy depends more on the bleeding risk and the immediate thrombotic risk perception.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitario de San Juan, Carretera nacional N-332, sn. 03550, Alicante, Spain. vbertog@gmail.com
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bertomeu-González
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cordero
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mazón
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moreno-Arribas
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fácila
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nuñez
authors.forename: Moisés
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Mañero
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cosín-Sales
authors.forename: Jose Ramón
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: González-Juanatey
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quiles
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bertomeu-Martínez
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors