title: Management of atrial fibrillation in Greece: the MANAGE-AF study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although atrial fibrillation (AF) is a highly prevalent health problem with high morbidity and mortality, data regarding the clinical characteristics and management of AF in the Greek population are scarce. The "Current Clinical Practice in the MANAGEment of Atrial Fibrillation in Greece" study (MANAGEAF) aimed to assess the epidemiological features as well as the daily clinical practice in the management of Greek patients with AF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Taking into consideration the distribution of the Greek population, 603 consecutive patients over 18 years of age, with any type of AF, presenting at the emergency departments or outpatient clinics of 27 different centers, were included in our study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the patients was 68.5 ± 12.1 years, with male patients representing 52.5% of the study population. The most common AF type in our cohort was non-paroxysmal AF (60%), including the patients with permanent (24.1%), persistent (17.4%), long-standing (4.8%) and first diagnosed AF (13.8%). Hypertension was the most common comorbidity (70.3%). A history of stroke or transient ischemic attack was detected in 9.2% of the patients, while 6.2% had a history of gastrointestinal bleeding. About half of the patients (49.3%) were treated with anticoagulant drugs, mainly vitamin K antagonists (46.9%), while 34.2% were on antiplatelet drugs, aspirin and/or clopidogrel. The mean INR level (1.7 ± 0.8) was sub-therapeutic, although the mean values for CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores were 1.6 ± 1.2 and 3.0 ± 1.7, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MANAGE-AF baseline results indicate unsatisfactory levels of compliance with the current guidelines for the management of AF in Greece. Considering the undisputed effectiveness of anticoagulant treatment for preventing AF-related strokes, MANAGE-AF demonstrates the need for optimization of our therapeutic strategies for the management of cardioembolic stroke risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Henry Dunant Hospital, Athens, 0Department of Cardiology, KAT General Hospital, Athens, 1Department of Cardiology, Sismanogleio General Hospital, Athens, 2Department of Cardiology, Heraklion University Hospital.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andrikopoulos
authors.forename: Sokratis
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pastromas
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mantas
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sakellariou
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kyrpizidis
authors.forename: Pantelis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Makridis
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Goumas
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stakos
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gotsis
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kartalis
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kazianis
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Babalis
authors.forename: Konstantina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Toli
authors.forename: Stylianos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tzeis
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papavasileiou
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kalogeropoulos
authors.forename: Panos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vardas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents