title: ReAl-life Multicenter Survey Evaluating Stroke prevention strategies in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (RAMSES study).
abstract: Data regarding stroke prevention strategies in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) are limited to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). This study aimed to evaluate real-life stroke prevention strategies for NVAF patients in the era of non-VKA oral anticoagulants (NOACs).
  
  
  
  We established a cross-sectional, multicenter, nationwide registry of NVAF patients. All consecutive atrial fibrillation (AF) patients and without mechanical heart valves or rheumatic mitral stenosis (but including those with any degree of mitral regurgitation) were enrolled in the ReAl-life Multicenter Survey Evaluating Stroke Prevention Strategies (RAMSES Study; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02344901) in Turkey. Baseline demographic data, medical history, and medications prescribed for NVAF treatment were collected. Univariate analyses were performed for continuous variables, and the chi-square test was used for categorical variables.
  
  
  
  In total, 6273 patients from 29 provinces of Turkey were enrolled in the study between February and May 2015, with the contribution of 83 investigators. The mean age was 69.6±10.7 years; 56% of the patients were females, and one-fifth of the patients had at least one comorbid disease, the most common being hypertension (69%). The mean CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores were 3.3±1.6 and 1.6±1.1, respectively. The rate of oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy use was 72% (37% NOAC and 35% VKA).
  
  
  
  The RAMSES study showed a higher prevalence of OAC use among NVAF patients than that reported in previous studies. Although NOACs were preferred over VKAs in daily cardiology practice, there is a need for improved OAC therapies for NVAF patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Muğla Sıtkı Kocman University, Muğla-Turkey. basaran_ozcan@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Özcan
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Başaran
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine,Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Sivas-Turkey.
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Beton
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Muğla Sıtkı Kocman University, Muğla-Turkey.
authors.forename: Volkan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Doğan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kahramanmaraş Necip Fazıl State Hospital, Kahramanmaraş-Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tekinalp
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Trabzon Ahi Evren Chest Cardiovascular Surgery Education and Research Hospital, Trabzon-Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet Çağrı
authors.initials: AÇ
authors.lastname: Aykan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Trabzon Ahi Evren Chest Cardiovascular Surgery Education and Research Hospital, Trabzon-Turkey.
authors.forename: Ezgi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kalaycıoğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Fethiye State Hospital, Fethiye-Turkey.
authors.forename: İsmail
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Bolat
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Elazığ Education and Research Hospital, Elazığ-Turkey.
authors.forename: Onur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Taşar
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Burdur State Hospital, Burdur-Turkey.
authors.forename: Özgen
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Şafak
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, İskilip Atıf Hoca State Hospital, Çorum-Turkey.
authors.forename: Macit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalçık
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Samsun Education and Research Hospital, Samsun-Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yaman
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Muğla Sıtkı Kocman University, Muğla-Turkey.
authors.forename: İbrahim
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Altun
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Muğla Sıtkı Kocman University, Muğla-Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa Özcan
authors.initials: MÖ
authors.lastname: Soylu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kartal Koşuyolu Heart Education and Research Hospital, İstanbul-Turkey.
authors.forename: Cevat
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kırma
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Muğla Sıtkı Kocman University, Muğla-Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biteker
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants