title: RHYTHM-AF: design of an international registry on cardioversion of atrial fibrillation and characteristics of participating centers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrial fibrillation is a serious public health problem posing a considerable burden to not only patients, but the healthcare environment due to high rates of morbidity, mortality, and medical resource utilization. There are limited data on the variation in treatment practice patterns across different countries, healthcare settings and the associated health outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  RHYTHM-AF was a prospective observational multinational study of management of recent onset atrial fibrillation patients considered for cardioversion designed to collect data on international treatment patterns and short term outcomes related to cardioversion. We present data collected in 10 countries between May 2010 and June 2011. Enrollment was ongoing in Italy and Brazil at the time of data analysis. Data were collected at the time of atrial fibrillation episode in all countries (Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom), and cumulative follow-up data were collected at day 60 (±10) in all but Spain. Information on center characteristics, enrollment data, patient demographics, detail of atrial fibrillation episode, medical history, diagnostic procedures, acute treatment of atrial fibrillation, discharge information and the follow-up data on major events and rehospitalizations up to day 60 were collected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A total of 3940 patients were enrolled from 175 acute care centers. 70.5% of the centers were either academic (44%) or teaching (26%) hospitals with an overall median capacity of 510 beds. The sites were mostly specialized with anticoagulation clinics (65.9%), heart failure (75.1%) and hypertension clinics (60.1%) available. The RHYTHM-AF registry will provide insight into regional variability of antiarrhythmic and antithrombotic treatment of atrial fibrillation, the appropriateness of such treatments with respect to outcomes, and their cost-efficacy. Observations will help inform strategies to improve cardiovascular outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinical trials NCT01119716.
authors.affiliation: Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, Netherlands. hjgm.crijns@mumc.nl.
authors.forename: Harry J G M
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Crijns
authors.forename: Lori D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Bash
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chazelle
authors.forename: Jean-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Le Heuzey
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lewalter
authors.forename: Gregory Y H
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Lip
authors.forename: Aldo P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Maggioni
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ponikowski
authors.forename: Mårten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosenqvist
authors.forename: Prashanthan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scanavacca
authors.forename: Alexandra A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bernhardt
authors.forename: Sreevalsa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Unniachan
authors.forename: Hemant M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Phatak
authors.forename: Anselm K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gitt
mesh_terms: D000638:Amiodarone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000628:therapy*; D004554:Electric Countershock; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries
chemical_list: D000638:Amiodarone