Via practica 6/2017

Contribution of general practitioner to screening, treatment and prevention complication by atrial fibrillation – epidemiological data from practice of general practitioner

Aim : The aim of our study was to obtain data of prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and incidence of the most common comorbidities by patients with AF at our office.We assessed the quality of the anticoagulation therapy at AF.We focused on risk factors which play an important role in the incidence of the atrial fibrillation.The screening of AF by the patients with present risk factors is very important.Patients and methods : Recruited were all patients with AF during period from 1 March 2016 to 1 May 2017.We controlled the pulse by the patients with risk factors of atrial fibrillation.In the case of irregular pulse, ECG was performed.AF detected on ECG ( patient was in good condition without acute symptoms which would require hospital admission ) we assessed the stroke risk according to CHA2DS2VASc > 2 and the anticoagulation therapy was initiated.Results : The prevalence of AF in our study was 3.8 %.The most common comorbidity was arterial hypertension.Anticoagulation therapy was given 77.4 % of patients, antiplatelet therapy was given 19.4 %, without any therapy were 3.2 % of patients nevertheless they had CHA2DS2VASc > 2.Conclusion : The incidence and prevalence of AF in adult population is high and increases with age.General practitioners (GP) play an important role in AF screening.Immediately initiated and well controlled anticoagulation therapy helps to decrease thromboembolic complication, especially stroke.

Keywords: epidemiology, screening, prevention