Rationale and design of the First Brazilian Cardiovascular Registry of Atrial Fibrillation: The RECALL study.
BACKGROUND
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an important and growing public health problem worldwide, but data about its actual prevalence, therapeutic management, and clinical outcomes in middle- to low-income countries are scarce.


METHODS
The First Brazilian Cardiovascular Registry of Atrial Fibrillation (the RECALL study) will assess demographic characteristics and evidence-based practice of a representative sample of patients with AF in Brazil. The prospective, multicenter registry has a planned sample size of around 5,000 patients at approximately 80 sites. Eligibility criteria include age >18 years and permanent, paroxysmal, or persistent AF documented by electrocardiogram, 24-hour Holter monitoring, or device interrogation. Patients will be followed up through 1 year after enrollment. Information on laboratory tests, echocardiographic data, medication use, and clinical outcomes will be obtained. Various aspects of the population will be described, including demographic characteristics; antithrombotic therapies; antiarrhythmic agents; level of control of international normalized ratio (by average time within the therapeutic range) among patients using vitamin K antagonists; rates of warfarin discontinuation; outcomes such as death, stroke, systemic embolism, and major bleeding within 1 year after enrollment in the study; and rates of electrical cardioversion, percutaneous ablation of AF, ablation of the atrioventricular junction, and pacemaker/cardioverter-defibrillator implantation.


CONCLUSIONS
RECALL is the first prospective, multicenter registry of AF in Brazil. This study will provide important information about demographics, practice patterns, treatments, and associated outcomes in patients with AF. The results of this registry will also allow Brazilian data to be put in perspective with other AF registries across the world and provide opportunities to improve care of patients with AF in Brazil.
Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC; Brazilian Society of Cardiology, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; São Paulo Hospital, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: renato.lopes@duke.edu.
Renato D
RD
Lopes
Brazilian Society of Cardiology, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; São Paulo Hospital, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
Angelo Amato Vicenzo
AA
de Paola
Brazilian Society of Cardiac Arrhythmias, São Paulo, Brazil; Instituto de Moléstias Cardiovasculares, São Paulo, Brazil.
Adalberto Menezes
AM
Lorga Filho
Brazilian Society of Cardiology, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Heart Institute of University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), São Paulo, Brazil.
Fernanda Marciano
FM
Consolim-Colombo
Brazilian Society of Cardiology, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Jadelson
J
Andrade
Brazilian Society of Cardiology, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Luiz Alberto
LA
Piva E Mattos
Research Institute of Heart Hospital (Hcor), São Paulo, Brazil.
Sabrina
S
Bernardez-Pereira
Research Institute of Heart Hospital (Hcor), São Paulo, Brazil.
Otávio
O
Berwanger
Brazilian Society of Cardiac Arrhythmias, São Paulo, Brazil; Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Cardiology Discipline, São Paulo, Brazil.
Marcio Jansen
MJ
de Oliveira Figueiredo
D000328:Adult; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D019934:International Normalized Ratio; D008297:Male; D010346:Patient Care Management / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D012107:Research Design
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants