Atrial Fibrillation in Turkey: Epidemiologic Registry (AFTER) study design

Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an important health problem in Turkey. However, no prospective, multicenter, large trial reflecting national data has been published so far. Therefore, the aim of this study was to follow, analyze and evaluate patients with AF in a large multicenter nation-wide trial. Methods: Two thousand three hundred consecutive patients with AF in their electrocardiogram, reflecting all the population of seven geographical regions of Turkey will be included in the study. The patients will be followed up for two years and death, transient ischemic attack, stroke, systemic thromboembolism, major bleeding, hospitalization will be recorded as the primary end-point. Results: Will be available at the end of the study; preliminary results will be due December 2012. Conclusion: General risk profile of patients with AF, frequency of anticoagulation, frequency of effective treatment and risks of bleeding will be evaluated according to the current guidelines. Major adverse events and their independent predictors will be determined.