title: [Temporal evolution of treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation in a urban health care area].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the adequacy of atrial fibrillation (AF) management 6 years after the establishment of a coordinated AF Unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with AF attended during 14 consecutive days in the Emergency Room, Internal Medicine, Neurology and Arrhythmia departments of a tertiary hospital, and 3 primary health care centers of the same urban health care area were included. Treatment for AF and its adequacy to current clinical guidelines, tests performed and knowledge about the arrhythmia were evaluated. Results were compared with a population of 239 patients treated 6 years earlier.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and sixty-eight patients were included. Knowledge of the arrhythmia improved. The adequacy of treatment (rate control, rhythm control and antithrombotic prophylaxis) remained at the same level as in the previous period in all areas. The adequacy of thromboprophylaxis was negatively associated with advanced age (P < .001) and positively associated with knowledge of arrhythmia (P = .026).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of AF in a coordinated health area remains appropriate 6 years after the establishment of a coordinated AF unit. Elderly patients are still poorly anticoagulated. Health education may improve this deficit.
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Fibril·lació Auricular (UFA), Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, España; Àrea d'Urgències, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, España; Grup de recerca «Urgències: processos i patologies», Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, España. Electronic address: carofuenzali@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fuenzalida
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Fibril·lació Auricular (UFA), Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, España; Àrea d'Urgències, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, España; Grup de recerca «Urgències: processos i patologies», Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Coll-Vinent
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Fibril·lació Auricular (UFA), Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, España; Centre d'Atenció Primària Borrell, Barcelona, España; Grup Transversal d'Investigació en Atenció Primària, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Fibril·lació Auricular (UFA), Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, España; Unitat d'Ictus, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Álvaro
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Cervera
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Fibril·lació Auricular (UFA), Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, España; Servei de Medicina Interna, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camafort
authors.affiliation: Unitat de Fibril·lació Auricular (UFA), Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, España; Unitat d'Arítmies, Servei de Cardiologia, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Lluís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mont
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D015897:Comorbidity; D003935:Diagnostic Techniques, Cardiovascular / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004077:Digoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000639:trends; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants; D004077:Digoxin
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Fibrilación auricular; Health care levels; Niveles asistenciales; Tratamiento; Treatment