title: International longitudinal registry of patients with atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke: Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD (GARFIELD).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Patients with AF carry a fivefold increased risk of stroke and the risk of death from AF-related stroke is doubled. Current management is often inadequate, leaving patients at risk for a potentially fatal or disabling event. The purpose of the GARFIELD registry is to evaluate the management and outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular AF at risk for stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  The GARFIELD registry is an observational, multicenter, prospective study of patients with newly diagnosed AF and one or more additional risk factors for stroke. The aim is to enroll 55,000 patients at >1,000 centers in 50 countries. Enrollment will take place in five independent, sequential, prospective cohorts. An additional retrospective validation cohort of 5,000 patients with established AF and at least one additional risk factor for stroke will be conducted in parallel with cohort one. The study started in December 2009, with a planned recruitment period of 4 years and a minimum of 2-year follow-up for each patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The GARFIELD registry will provide valuable insights into the clinical management and related outcomes of AF patients throughout many regions of the world and across the spectrum of healthcare systems. By capturing data from unselected patients treated in everyday practice, the registry has the potential to identify best practices as well as deficiencies in available treatment options for specific patient populations and to describe how therapeutic strategies, patient care, and outcomes will evolve over time.
authors.affiliation: Thrombosis Research Institute, London, United Kingdom. akkakkar@tri-london.ac.uk
authors.forename: Ajay K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kakkar
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bassand
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fitzmaurice
authors.forename: Samuel Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Goldhaber
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hacke
authors.forename: Gregory Y H
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Lip
authors.forename: Lorenzo G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Mantovani
authors.forename: Freek W A
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Verheugt
authors.forename: Waheed
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jamal
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Misselwitz
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rushton-Smith
authors.forename: Alexander G G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Turpie
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D015331:Cohort Studies; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants