Age-Related Differences in Presentation, Treatment, and Outcome of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation in Europe

Abstract Objectives This study sought to compare age-related differences in presentation, treatment, and outcome of atrial fibrillation (AF) in a wide cohort of European subjects. Background AF is the most common sustained arrhythmia in the elderly. Methods We evaluated all patients enrolled in the...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:JACC. Clinical electrophysiology 2015-08, Vol.1 (4), p.326-334
Main Authors: Fumagalli, Stefano, MD, PhD, Said, Salah A.M., MD, PhD, Laroche, Cecile, MSc, Gabbai, Debbie, MD, Marchionni, Niccolò, MD, Boriani, Giuseppe, MD, PhD, Maggioni, Aldo P., MD, Popescu, Mircea Ioachim, MD, PhD, Rasmussen, Lars Hvilsted, MD, PhD, Crijns, Harry J.G.M., MD, Lip, Gregory Y.H., MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
atrial fibrillation
Cardiovascular
elderly
oral anticoagulation
registry
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Objectives This study sought to compare age-related differences in presentation, treatment, and outcome of atrial fibrillation (AF) in a wide cohort of European subjects. Background AF is the most common sustained arrhythmia in the elderly. Methods We evaluated all patients enrolled in the EORP-AF (EURObservational Research Programme-Atrial Fibrillation) General Pilot Registry in 70 centers of 9 European countries. Results Among 3,119 subjects, 1,051 (33.7%) were age ≥75 years. Permanent AF was significantly more common in the elderly, who had a higher prevalence of hypertension, valvular diseases, chronic heart failure, coronary artery disease, renal failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and prior hemorrhagic event or a transient ischemic attack. Common diagnostic tests were underused in older subjects. Despite their higher stroke risk, the use of oral anticoagulants was significantly lower in the elderly (76.7% vs. 82.8%; p = 0.0012), whereas aspirin and clopidogrel alone or in combination were more often prescribed. Rate control was the management of choice in the older group, with electrical cardioversion and catheter ablation performed less frequently than in the younger age group. Antiarrhythmic drugs were significantly less prescribed in the elderly (29.8% vs. 41.7%; p < 0.0001). At the 1-year follow-up, mortality (11.5% vs. 3.7%; p 
ISSN:2405-500X
2405-5018
DOI:10.1016/j.jacep.2015.02.019