title: Evaluation of atrial fibrillation management and cardiovascular risk profile in atrial fibrillation patients: A cross-sectional survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study to investigate the most frequent risk factors of atrial fibrillation (AF), co-morbidities, complications associated with AF and the use of anticoagulants and other medications in patients who were referred to university hospitals in Lithuania.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study enrolled consecutive inpatients and outpatients with AF presenting to cardiologists in the two biggest Lithuanian university hospitals from November 2013 to May 2014. AF diagnosis was confirmed by a 12-lead ECG or 24-h Holter with an episode duration of >30s.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total number of 575 patients were recruited, and complete data on clinical subtype were available for 515 patients (mean age of 70.7 years; 48.5% of women). Permanent AF was the most frequent type of AF (46.6%). Common comorbidities were hypertension (85.8%), heart failure (77.9%) and coronary artery disease (51.8%). Amiodarone was the most common antiarrhythmic agent used in 14.6% of the patients, while beta-blockers and digoxin were the most often used rate control drugs (59.6% and 10.7%, respectively). Oral anticoagulants were used by 53.3% of the patients; of them, 95.6% used vitamin K antagonists, while non-vitamin K antagonist were used by only 4.4%. The INR within a therapeutic range (2.0-3.0) was documented in 19.2% of the patients. Other antithrombotic drugs such as aspirin and clopidogrel were used in 13.7% and 2.0% of the patients, respectively; dual antiplatelet treatment was administered in 6.2% of the patients. Of the entire cohort, the mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 3.97±1.6 and the mean HAS-BLED score was 2.25±1.0.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compliance with the treatment guidelines remains suboptimal and further patient education is needed.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cardiology and Angiology, Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania. Electronic address: gediminas.rackauskas@santa.lt.
authors.forename: Gediminas
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Račkauskas
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Vytautas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zabiela
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cardiology and Angiology, Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Germanas
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marinskis
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cardiology and Angiology, Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Arvydas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baranauskas
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cardiology and Angiology, Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Deimilė
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Balkutė
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cardiology and Angiology, Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Justina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alunderytė
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Aras
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Puodžiūkynas
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kazakevičius
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Vilius
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kviesulaitis
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cardiology and Angiology, Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Audrius
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aidietis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008097:Lithuania / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents
keywords: Anticoagulation; Atrial fibrillation; Risk scores