title: Non-valvular atrial fibrillation in the elderly; preliminary results from the National AFTER (Atrial Fibrillation in Turkey: Epidemiologic Registry) Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed at the assessment of the clinical approach to atrial fibrillation (AF) in the older population and the consistency with the guidelines based on the records of the multicenter, prospective AFTER (Atrial Fibrillation in Turkey: Epidemiologic Registry) study.
  
  
  METHODS
  2242 consecutive patients admitted to the Cardiology Outpatient Clinics of 17 different tertiary Health Care Centers with at least one AF attack determined on electrocardiographic examination, were included in the study. Among the patients included in the study, 631 individuals aged 75 years and older were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the patients was determined as 80.3±4.2 years. The most frequent type of AF in geriatric population was the persistent-permanent type with a percentage of 88%. 60% of the patients with AF were female. Hypertension was the most common co-morbidity in patients with AF (76%). While in 16% of patients a history of stroke, transient ischemic attack or systemic thromboembolism was present, a history of bleeding was present in 14% of the patients. 37% of the patients were on warfarin treatment and 60% of the patients were on aspirin treatment. In 38% of the patients who were on oral anticoagulant treatment, INR level was in the effective range.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rate of anticoagulant use in the elderly with AF was 37% and considering the reason of this situation was the medication not being prescribed by the physician, one should pay more attention particularly in the field of treatment.
authors: Department of Cardiology, Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, Diyarbakir, Turkey. farukertas@hotmail.com  
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Ertas
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Oylumlu
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Akil
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Acet
authors: M Z
authors: MZ
authors: Bilik
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Celepkolu
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Yildiz
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Kaya
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Alan
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Ozhan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019934:International Normalized Ratio; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014859:Warfarin; D001241:Aspirin