RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether antithrombotic treatment (ATT) in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation in a health area complies with the recommendations of current clinical guidelines. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. LOCATION: Primary Health Care Centres and Cardiology Department of a Health Department of the Valencian Community, Spain. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 505 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation were included in the study. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: ATT was deemed to be inappropriate in patients with a CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥1 and who were not under oral anticoagulation, in patients treated with antivitaminK drugs, and poor control of oral anticoagulation, or with antiplatelet therapy inappropriately associated with anticoagulation, and in patients on ATT with a CHA2DS2-VASc score=0. RESULTS: The median age was 77.4±10years. The ATT was considered inadequate in 58% of cases. Factors independently associated with inadequate ATT were age (OR: 1.02 [1-1.04]; P=.029), hypothyroidism (OR: 1.98 [1.14-3.43]; P=.015), ischaemic heart disease (OR: 1.3 [1.15-2.59]; P=.008) and paroxysmal non-valvular AF (OR: 2.11 [1.41-3.17]; P<.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These data underline the high prevalence of inadequate ATT in daily practice, as well its different causes.