Analysis of geographical variations in the epidemiology and management of non-valvular atrial fibrillation: results from the RAMSES registry.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the differences in terms of demographic characteristics and preferred stroke prevention strategies for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation living in seven geographical regions of Turkey. METHODS: In total, 6273 patients were enrolled to this prospective, observational RAMSES study. The patients were divided into seven groups based on the geographical region of residence. RESULTS: In terms of the geographical distribution of the overall Turkish population, the highest number of patients were enrolled from Marmara (1677, 26.7%). All demographic characteristics were significantly different among regions. Preferred oral anticoagulants (OACs) also differed between geographical regions; non-vitamin K OACs were preceded by warfarin in East Anatolia, Aegean, Southeast Anatolia, and Black Sea. Nearly one-third of the patients (28%) did not receive any OAC therapy. However, the number of patients not receiving any OAC therapy was higher in Southeast Anatolia (51.1%) and East Anatolia (46.8%) compared with other geographical regions of Turkey. Inappropriate use of OACs was also more common in East and Southeast Anatolia. CONCLUSION: This study was the first to show that the demographic differences among the geographical regions may result in different preferences of stroke prevention strategies in Turkey. OACs are still under- or inappropriately utilized, particularly in the eastern provinces of Turkey.

The Time in Therapeutic Range and Bleeding Complications of Warfarin in Different Geographic Regions of Turkey: A Subgroup Analysis of WARFARIN-TR Study.

BACKGROUND: The time in therapeutic range values may vary between different geographical regions of Turkey in patients vitamin K antagonist therapy. AIMS: To evaluate the time in therapeutic range percentages, efficacy, safety and awareness of warfarin according to the different geographical regions in patients who participated in the WARFARIN-TR study (The Awareness, Efficacy, Safety and Time in Therapeutic Range of Warfarin in the Turkish population) in Turkey. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: The WARFARIN-TR study includes 4987 patients using warfarin and involved regular international normalized ratio monitoring between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014. Patients attended follow-ups for 12 months. The sample size calculations were analysed according to the density of the regional population and according to Turkish Statistical Institute data. The time in therapeutic range was calculated according to F.R. Roosendaal's algorithm. Awareness was evaluated based on the patients' knowledge of the effect of warfarin and food-drug interactions with simple questions developed based on a literature review. RESULTS: The Turkey-wide time in therapeutic range was reported as 49.5%±22.9 in the WARFARIN-TR study. There were statistically significant differences between regions in terms of time in therapeutic range (p>0.001). The highest rate was reported in the Marmara region (54.99%±20.91) and the lowest was in the South-eastern Anatolia region (41.95±24.15) (p>0.001). Bleeding events were most frequently seen in Eastern Anatolia (41.6%), with major bleeding in the Aegean region (5.11%) and South-eastern Anatolia (5.36%). There were statistically significant differences between the regions in terms of awareness (p>0.001). CONCLUSION: Statistically significant differences were observed in terms of the efficacy, safety and awareness of warfarin therapy according to different geographical regions in Turkey.

Real-World Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Patterns of Individuals Aged 80 and Older with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: Results from the ReAl-life Multicenter Survey Evaluating Stroke Study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinical characteristics of and use of oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy in individuals aged 80 and older with atrial fibrillation (AF) with those of individuals younger than 80 with AF in clinical practice. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: The ReAl-life Multicenter Survey Evaluating Stroke prevention strategies in Turkey trial (NCT02344901), a national observational registry. PARTICIPANTS: Turkish adults with nonvalvular AF (NVAF). MEASUREMENTS: Age data were collected at the time of entry into the registry and the octogenarian subgroup included all patients aged ≥ 80 years. We compared background and management in octogenarian with non-octogenarian AF patients. RESULTS: Fifty-seven cardiology units enrolled 6,273 individuals in 3 months. Participants aged 80 and older (n = 1,170) were more likely to be female (60.7% vs 54.7%, P < .001) and had a higher prevalence of persistant or permanent AF, comorbidities, history of cerebral vascular accident, and major bleeding. As a consequence of having more comorbidities, Congestive heart failure; Hypertension; Aged 75 and older; Diabetes Mellitus; prior stroke, transient ischemic attack, or thromboembolism; Vascular disease; Aged 65 to 74; female Sex (CHA2 DS2 VASc) (4.32 ± 1.35 vs 3.04 ± 1.54, P < .001) and Hypertension, Abnormal renal and liver function, Stroke, Bleeding, Labile international normalized ratio, Elderly, Drugs or alcohol (HAS-BLED) (2.14 ± 1.05 vs 1.54 ± 1.05, P < .001) scores were higher in those aged 80 and older. The mean time in therapeutic range of individuals who were taking warfarin was lower in those aged 80 and older (45.9 ± 27.9) than in those younger than 80 (54.7 ± 24.9%, P < .001). Anticoagulant therapy was prescribed for 74.8% of participants younger than 80% and 63% of those aged 80 and older (P < .001). Higher CHA2 DS2 VASc score and lower HAS-BLED score were independent predictors of OAC prescription in participants aged 80 and older. CONCLUSION: Nearly one-fifth of individuals with NVAF in this real-world sample were aged 80 and older. Participants aged 80 and older were more likely to be female and have more comorbidities than those who were younger than 80. Those aged 80 and older with AF were less likely to receive anticoagulants than those who were younger than 80, but having more comorbidities and other individual-level characteristics may explain this difference. When they were prescribed OACs, participants aged 80 and older had poorer quality of anticoagulation than those who were younger, suggesting opportunities for improvement.

Guideline-adherent therapy for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation in different health care settings: Results from RAMSES study.

OBJECTIVE: No studies have been conducted in Turkey to compare the quality of stroke prevention therapies provided in different healthcare settings in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Therefore, we aimed to evaluate possible differences between secondary (SH) and tertiary hospital (TH) settings in the effectiveness of implementing AF treatment strategies. METHODS: Baseline characteristics of 6273 patients with non-valvular AF enrolled in the RAMSES (ReAl-life Multicentre Survey Evaluating Stroke Prevention Strategies in Turkey) study were compared. RESULTS: Of the study population, 3312 (52.8%) patients were treated in THs and 2961 (47.2%) patients were treated in SHs. Patients treated in the SH setting were older (70.8±9.8 vs. 68.7±11.4years, p<0.001), had a lower socioeconomic status, had a higher CHA2DS2VASc and HASBLED scores (3.4±1.4 vs. 3.1±1.7, p<0.001 and 1.7±1.0 vs. 1.6±1.1, p<0.001 respectively), and had more comorbidities than patients treated in THs. Inappropriate oral anticoagulant use was more prevalent in SHs than THs (31.4% vs. 25.6%, p<0.001). When over- and undertreatment rates were compared among hospital types, overtreatment was more prevalent in THs (7.6% vs. 0.9%, p<0.001) while undertreatment was more common in SHs (30.5% vs. 17.9%, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the marked disparity between patient groups with AF presenting at SHs and THs. The use of guideline-recommended therapy is not adequate in either type of centre, overtreatment was more prevalent in THs and undertreatment was more prevalent in SHs.

Recurrent giant sinus of Valsalva aneurysm and ankylosing spondylitis.

A 48-year-old woman underwent aneurysmectomy and primary suture repair with a pericardial patch for sinus of Valsalva aneurysm secondary to ankylosing spondylitis. The sinus of Valsalva aneurysm recurred one year after surgery, and reached a diameter of 53 mm. Special attention must be paid to the potential relapse of aortic aneurysms that develop secondary to autoimmune disorders, when using primary suture or patch repair.