title: Cardiovascular risk profile and management of atrial fibrillation in India: Real world data from RealiseAF survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia with high risk for many cardiovascular (CV) complications. Adherence to recommended management guidelines is important to avoid complications. In India, there is little knowledge on how AF is managed in real world.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional study of patients in India enrolled in RealiseAF survey between February 2010 and March 2010 with a diagnosis of AF within the last 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 15 centers, 301 patients {mean age 59.9 years (14.4); 52.5% males} were recruited. AF was controlled in 50% of patients with 77 (26.7%) in sinus rhythm and 67 (23.3%) with heart rate <80beats/min. Hypertension (50.8%), valvular heart disease (40.7%), heart failure (25.9%), and diabetes (20.4%) were the most common underlying CV diseases. Increased risk for stroke (CHADS2score≥2) was present in 36.6%. Most of the patients (85%) were symptomatic. AF was paroxysmal, persistent, and permanent in 28.7%, 22.7%, and 34.3% respectively. In 14%, AF was diagnosed as first episode. Forty-six percent of patients had rate control, 35.2% rhythm control, 0.3% both strategies, and 18.4% received no therapy for AF before the visit. At the end of the visit, adoption to rate control strategy increased to 52.3% and patients with no therapy decreased to 7%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AF in India is not adequately controlled. Concomitant CV risk factors and risk of stroke are high. The study underscores the need for improved adoption of guideline-directed management for optimal control of AF and reducing the risk of stroke.
authors: CARE Hospital, Hyderabad, India. Electronic address: calambur@hotmail.com.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Narasimhan
authors: Fortis Hospital, Mohali, India.
authors: Jagmohan Singh
authors: JS
authors: Verma
authors: Narayana Hrudayalaya, Bangalore, India.
authors: A G
authors: AG
authors: Ravi Kishore
authors: Medanta - The Medicity, Gurgaon, India.
authors: Balbir
authors: B
authors: Singh
authors: Life Care Institute of Medical Science and Research, Ahmedabad, India.
authors: Sameer
authors: S
authors: Dani
authors: Sterling Hospital, Vadodara, India.
authors: Kamaldeep
authors: K
authors: Chawala
authors: B. M. Birla Heart Research Centre, Kolkata, India.
authors: Azizul
authors: A
authors: Haque
authors: Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, Kolkata, India.
authors: Aftab
authors: A
authors: Khan
authors: Max Devki Devi Heart and Vascular Institute, New Delhi, India.
authors: Mohan
authors: M
authors: Nair
authors: Glenmark Cardiac Centre, Mumbai, India.
authors: Amit
authors: A
authors: Vora
authors: Kamineni Hospitals, Hyderabad, India.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Rajasekhar
authors: ICCTVD-Frontier LifeLine Pvt. Ltd, Chennai, India.
authors: Joy M
authors: JM
authors: Thomas
authors: Sterling Hospitals, Ahmedabad, India.
authors: Anoop
authors: A
authors: Gupta
authors: The Heart Care Clinic, Ahmedabad, India.
authors: Ajay
authors: A
authors: Naik
authors: M. S. Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, Bangalore, India.
authors: V S
authors: VS
authors: Prakash
authors: Sanofi, France.
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Naditch
authors: Hôpital Bichat, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Gabriel Steg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Cardiovascular risk factors; Guidelines; India; Stroke