Characterization of patients with atrial fibrillation not treated with oral anticoagulants.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

An underuse of oral anticoagulants (OAC) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) has been suggested, as only 50% of all patients with AF receive OAC treatment. Whether this is due to contraindications, lack of an indication to treat, or an expression of underuse is sparsely investigated. This study therefore aimed to characterize individuals without OAC treatment in a real-life population of patients with AF.

Design

Retrospective cross-sectional study. The medical records were scrutinized in order to identify the type of AF, risk factors for embolism and bleeding, and other factors of importance for OAC treatment.

Setting

The municipalities of Skellefteå and Norsjö, northern Sweden.

Subjects

A total of 2274 living residents with at least one verifie

SUBMITTER: Johansson C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4278389 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature