title: Epidemiology of atrial fibrillation in Turkey: preliminary results of the multicenter AFTER study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common rhythm disorders observed in clinical practice, a multicenter epidemiological study has not been conducted in our country. This study aimed to assess our clinical approach to AF based upon the records of the first multicenter prospective Atrial Fibrillation in Turkey: Epidemiologic Registry (AFTER) study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Taking into consideration the distribution of the population in our country, 2242 consecutive patients with at least one AF attack determined by electrocardiographic examination in 17 different tertiary health care centers were included in the study. Inpatients and patients that were admitted to emergency departments were excluded from the study. Epidemiological data of the patients and the treatment administered were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the patients was determined as 66.8 ± 12.3 years with female patients representing 60% of the study population. While the most common AF type in the Turkish population was non-valvular AF (78%), persistent/permanent AF was determined in 81% of all patients. Hypertension (%67) was the most common co-morbidity in patients with AF. While a stroke or transient ischemic attack or history of systemic thromboembolism was detected in 15.3% of the patients, bleeding history was recorded in 11.2%. Also, 50% of the patients were on warfarin treatment and 53% were on aspirin treatment at the time of the study. The effective INR level was detected in 41.3% of the patients. The most frequent cause of not receiving anticoagulant therapy was physician neglect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate the necessity for improved quality of physician care of patients with AF, especially with regards to antithrombotic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Cardiology, Dicle University Faculty of Medicine, Diyarbakır, Turkey. farukertas@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Faruk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ertaş
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Zekeriya
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bulur
authors.forename: Nuri
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Köse
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gül
authors.forename: Nihan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kahya Eren
authors.forename: Cağlar Emre
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Cağlıyan
authors.forename: Bayram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Köroğlu
authors.forename: Bülent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vatan
authors.forename: Göksel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Acar
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yüksel
authors.forename: Mehmet Zihni
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Bilik
authors.forename: Selçuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gedik
authors.forename: Ziya
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Simşek
authors.forename: Mehmet Ata
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Akıl
authors.forename: Rüstem
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oylumlu
authors.forename: Alpay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arıbaş
authors.forename: Abdulkadir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yıldız
authors.forename: Mesut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aydın
authors.forename: Ekrem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yeter
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanadaşı
authors.forename: Oktay
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ergene
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozhan
authors.forename: Mehmet Sıddık
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ulgen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000150:complications; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014859:Warfarin; D001241:Aspirin