English summary: TREATMENT OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION IN FINLAND - THE FINFIB STUDY
Background
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia among patients admitted to acute medical care units.
Methods
In order to evaluate current treatments and adherence to the atrial fibrillation management guidelines in Finland we conducted a prospective survey of all AF patients admitted to forty Finnish acute care units over a two-week period.
Results
The mean age of patients (males 56%) was 69 years; 64% had hypertension and 29% coronary artery disease. One or more CHADS2-score risk factors were found in 78% of patients (mean CHADS2-score 1.7). Seventy seven percent of patients had previously diagnosed AF, and 59% of these had had at least one cardioversion, 63% had been treated at an acute care department during the preceding year, and the mean number of acute admissions in these patients was 3.7. Beta blocking agents were used by 85% and class I and III antiarrhythmic agents by 20% of patients. Sixty percent of all patients and 71% of those with a CHADS2-score of at least two were on warfarin. During the index hospital admission 68% of patients with AF at baseline underwent cardioversion. If a patient had had earlier cardioversions the possibility of undergoing cardioversion during the index admission was significantly higher. The follow-up care was undertaken by a health centre in 56% and the treatment goal for AF was defined as rhythm control in 54% of the patients.
Conclusions
In this cohort of atrial fibrillation patients treated at acute care departments the number of previous admissions to acute care was remarkable. The majority of patients had risk factors for stroke, but underutilisation of warfarin, as well as of antiarrhythmic medication was documented.
Finfib-Tutkimusryhmän Puolesta
FinFib-tutkijaryhmä: Jarmo Ahonen, Juha Hartikainen, Juha Lund, Markku Mäkijärvi, Heikki Mäkynen, Pekka Raatikainen, Mika Lehto, Minna Peiponen, Hanna Kyhälä-Valtonen, Aapo Aro, Anja Toljamo, Anne Miettinen, Antti Luokkala, Elisa Lamminen, Hannamari Lehtinen, Heidi Veteläinen, Heini Nal, Ilpo Salminen, Jaakko Inkovaara, Jani Mononen, Jari Nyrhilä, Jarmo Lehtonen, Johanna Kaartinen, Jukka Tolonen, Kalle Hakala, Kari Korpilahti, Katri Hollmen, Khalil Sumrein, Kimmo Salmio, Laura Moring, Leena Huhti, Liisa Kokkonen, Liisa Pietilä, Maija Feodoroff, Marko Nieppola, Mathias Höglund, Matti Antila, Merit Rosental, Mika Nisula, Mikko Halkosaari, Mikko Lintu, Minna Kyllönen, Petri Korkeila, Petteri Ahtiainen, Pirjo Hiltunen, Pirkko Ranki, Raija Särkisilta, Raimo Jokisalo, Ritva Vitri, Samuli Paronen, Sanna Aalto, Sari Kytölä, Seppo Hietakorpi, Susanna Viheriävaara, Tapio Kiuru, Timo Lauri, Tuomas Nieminen, Tuomas Rissanen, Ulla Hemmilä, Veikko Aitta, Vesa Hautamäki, Vesa Örmark, Vesa Virtanen, Virpi Nieminen.Tutkimuksen rahoitus
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