BACKGROUND: The objective of the study is to assess the degree of ambulatory use of prophylactic antithrombotic therapy in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation (CAF) in a county health area. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, prospective survey carried out in patients admitted at a community-hospital, detected 44 patients with CAF. RESULTS: The inappropriateness of anti-thrombotic therapy (48%) was associated with no having a previous echocardiography (p < 0.004), not being controlled in a hospital (p < 0.02) and in patients without information on the cardioembolic risks (p < 0.0007). CONCLUSIONS: The antithrombotic prophylaxis is scarcely used in patients affected by CAF in the county health area studied.
BACKGROUND: The objective of the study is to assess the degree of ambulatory use of prophylactic antithrombotic therapy in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation (CAF) in a county health area. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, prospective survey carried out in patients admitted at a community-hospital, detected 44 patients with CAF. RESULTS: The inappropriateness of anti-thrombotic therapy (48%) was associated with no having a previous echocardiography (p < 0.004), not being controlled in a hospital (p < 0.02) and in patients without information on the cardioembolic risks (p < 0.0007). CONCLUSIONS: The antithrombotic prophylaxis is scarcely used in patients affected by CAF in the county health area studied.
Authors: E Arrojo Arias; G Mora Navarro; A Abón Santos; M S Araujo Luis; C Capdevila Gallego; M J Gutiérrez Torres Journal: Aten Primaria Date: 2002-09-30 Impact factor: 1.137