Abstract

OLIVEIRA, Diana; COELHO, Joana; MAGALHAES, Manuel  and  OLIVEIRA, Mariana. Prevalence of atrial fibrillation and antithrombotic therapy in a group of primary health care clinics in the North of Portugal. Rev Port Med Geral Fam [online]. 2014, vol.30, n.5, pp.292-298. ISSN 2182-5173.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of atrial fibrillation among patients in primary health care clinics in West Porto in May 2013, to assess the distribution of CHA₂DS₂VASc risk factors for thromboembolism, to study antithrombotic therapy and the sites where anticoagulation therapy is managed. Type of Study: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Primary Health Care Centres of West Porto. Population: Patients registered in the health units of West Porto. Methods: Data were collected from the electronic medical records using SIARS, MIM@UF and SAM software. The chi-squared statistic was used for comparison of proportions, with statistical significance set at the p < 0.05 level. Results: The authors identified 1628 people with atrial fibrillation. Of these 58% were female. They ranged in age from 29 to 104 years with a mean age of 76 ± 11 years. The prevalence of atrial fibrillation was 0.98%, with a prevalence of 1.77% in patients over 39 years. The CHA₂DS₂VASc score was greater than zero in 95% of patients, excluding cases where female gender was the only risk factor. The main risk factors were arterial hypertension (75%), age greater than 74 years (62%) and female gender. Anticoagulation therapy was prescribed to 68% of patients with 88% receiving vitamin K antagonists. Follow-up of anticoagulation was performed in clinical laboratories in 74% of cases. Conclusions: The prevalence of atrial fibrillation in this population was greater than that reported in a national study in 2006 (0.5%). However the prevalence in patients over 39 years of age was less than that found in a study conducted in 2010, using electrocardiographic diagnosis (2.5%). Identification of patients with atrial fibrillation is an important task in primary health care.

Keywords : Atrial Fibrillation; Prevalence; CHA₂DS₂VASc Score; Anticoagulation.

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