title: Polish and European management strategies in patients with atrial fibrillation. Data from the EURObservational Research Programme-Atrial Fibrillation General Registry Pilot Phase (EORP-AF Pilot).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite continued efforts of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) to unify management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) across Europe, interregional differences in guideline adherence are likely.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to compare treatment strategies depending on baseline characteristics of AF patients between Poland and other members of the European Union (EU).
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the baseline data and treatment strategies in participants of the ESC registry: the EURObservational Research Programme-Atrial Fibrillation General Registry Pilot Phase. A total of 3119 consecutive patients with AF diagnosed within the last year were included in 67 centers from 9 countries, including 419 patients enrolled in 15 Polish centers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A rhythm control strategy was more frequent in Poland than in other EU countries (20.8% vs 11.9%; P <0.0001). Catheter ablation for AF was also used more frequently in Polish cardiology wards (13.9% vs 8.3%; P = 0.0017), while amiodarone at discharge was used less frequently (12.0% vs 22.7%; P <0.0001). In-hospital use of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) and non-VKA anticoagulants was less frequent in Polish patients with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 2 or higher than in patients from other EU countries (61.1% vs 79.0%; P <0.0001), but overall anticoagulation rates at discharge were similar to those in other countries (83.3% vs 82.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A rhythm control-oriented strategy in patients with AF with the use of ablation in cardiology wards is more frequent in Poland than in other EU countries. Similar to other EU countries, compliance with the ESC guidelines regarding anticoagulation in AF patients is suboptimal in Poland. Undertreatment was observed in a significant proportion of patients at high risk of stroke, while a large group of low-risk patients are overtreated. Differences between the types of recruiting centers in Poland and other EU countries might have influenced the results.
authors.forename: Radosław
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lenarczyk
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mitręga
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazurek
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janion
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Opolski
authors.forename: Jarosław
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drożdż
authors.forename: Witold
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Streb
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fuglewicz
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sokal
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laroche
authors.forename: Gregory Y H
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Lip
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kalarus
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000628:therapy*; D002309:Cardiology; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D019468:Disease Management; D005062:European Union; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011044:Poland; D012955:Societies, Medical
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D000638:Amiodarone