Evidence map›Paper›PMID 23018284›Full record

ArticleClinical drug investigation2012

Diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation by primary care physicians in Italy : a retrospective, observational analysis.

Gaetano Piccinocchi, Matteo Laringe, Bruno Guillaro, Giovanni Arpino, Roberto Piccinocchi, Gerardo Nigro, Paolo Calabrò

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical drug investigation, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Gaetano PiccinocchiCo.Me.Gen. Coop (Cooperativa Medicina Generale Napoli), Cooperative of Primary Care Physicians, Via Cintia Parco S. Paolo 45, 80126, Naples, Italy. gpiccino@tin.it
Matteo Laringe
Bruno Guillaro
Giovanni Arpino
Roberto Piccinocchi
Gerardo Nigro
Paolo Calabrò

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAtrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and is associated with a heavy burden of morbidity and mortality, mainly due to an increased risk of cerebrovascular events and cardiac failure. Oral anticoagulant (OAC) treatment prevents stroke and systemic thromboembolism in patients with AF and its use is strongly recommended in guidelines. However, its use in this patient group remains limited. Primary care physicians (PCPs) have an important role to play in this context.

objectiveThe primary objective was to estimate prevalence and epidemiological features of AF in the primary care setting, focusing on ischaemic and bleeding risk assessment. A secondary objective was to examine the PCPs' level of adherence to the guidelines for the prevention of thromboembolic risk in these patients.

methodsThis retrospective, observational study was based on data entered by 128 PCPs into the Health Search (HS) Thales database, identifying patients with a diagnosis of AF at the time of the analysis.

resultsOut of 167,056 patients analysed, 2,173 (1.3 %) were diagnosed with AF, with 86 % at high risk for ischaemic stroke, according to CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 years [doubled], diabetes, stroke [doubled], vascular disease, age 65-74 years, sex category [female]) stratification. After the diagnosis of AF, 84 % of patients were prescribed OAC treatment. However, at 2 years' follow-up, only 29.6 % were still being treated with OACs.

conclusionThe prevalence of AF in this analysis was consistent with previously reported Italian national epidemiological data. Adherence to the European Society of Cardiology AF guidelines by PCPs was low, despite the high levels of stroke risk. At the end of the observation period less than one-third of patients were still on OAC therapy. Awareness of the benefits of OACs in stroke prevention in AF patients needs to be improved.

Indexed as

Practice Patterns, Physicians'Primary Health CareAdministration, OralAgedAge FactorsAnticoagulantsAtrial FibrillationChi-Square DistributionComorbidityDrug UtilizationFemaleGuideline AdherenceHemorrhageHumansItalyMaleAnticoagulants

Identifiers

PMID23018284
PMCPMC3693438

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.