[Oral anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation: from guidelines to bedside]. / Anticoagulação oral em pacientes com fibrilação atrial: das diretrizes à prática clínica.

OBJECTIVE: Although oral anticoagulation has proved beneficial for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and embolic risk factors, it is still underused. The objective of this study was to evaluate the adequacy of anticoagulation therapy in patients with AF followed in a private clinic specialized in cardiology, in accordance with the American and European societies of cardiology guidelines/2006 and with the Brazilian Guidelines/2003. METHODS: Between November 2005 and August 2006, we evaluated 7,486 electrocardiograms and selected 53 patients with AF and complete chart records. Clinical characteristics, including embolic risk factor, echocardiographic data and medical treatment were reviewed. RESULTS: Among the 53 patients (68+/-16 years; 29 men), 25 (48%) had hypertension, 20 (38%) heart failure and 3 (6%) diabetes. Among the 15 patients with high embolic risk, 13 (86%) were on oral anticoagulation. In accordance with the American and European guidelines: 32 (60%) patients were Class I, 17 (32%) Class IIa, 1 (2%) Class IIb and 3 (6%) Class III. Treatment was adequate in 21 (66%) Class I patients and 13 (76%) Class IIa. In these, anticoagulation therapy was used in 7/19 (37%) patients > 75 years compared to 22/30 (73%) younger. Among the 3 patients within Class III, 1 was incorrectly on OAC. According to Brazilian guidelines, 33 (62%) were on correctly indicated antithrombotic therapy. There was no difference in the appropriate prescription of oral anticoagulants, comparing the international and Brazilian guidelines (55% vs. 55%). CONCLUSION: According to recent guidelines, anticoagulant therapy has been adequately prescribed for the majority of AF patients, although this is still far from ideal, especially in a cardiology clinic. It is even more critical in the group of older patients.

Anticoagulação oral em pacientes com fibrilação atrial: das diretrizes à prática clínica / Oral anticoagulation in patients with atrial fibrillation: from guidelines to bedside

OBJETIVO: Apesar da anticoagulação oral (ACO) ter benefício comprovado em pacientes com fibrilação atrial (FA) e fatores de risco embólico, ela vem sendo subutilizada. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a adequação da terapêutica anticoagulante em pacientes com FA acompanhados em clínica especializada em cardiologia, privada, de acordo com as diretrizes das sociedades americana e europeia de cardiologia de 2006 e a diretriz da Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia (SBC) de 2003. MÉTODOS: No período de novembro/2005 a agosto/2006 foram avaliados 7.486 eletrocardiogramas e selecionados 53 pts com laudo de FA e informações claras relatadas em prontuário sobre fatores de risco embólico e terapêutica de ACO. RESULTADOS: Dentre os 53 pacientes incluídos (68±16 anos; 29 homens - 55 por cento), 25 (48 por cento) tinham HAS, 20 (38 por cento) insuficiência cardíaca e 3 (6 por cento) DM. Dentre os 15 pacientes com alto risco embólico, 13 (86 por cento) estavam em uso de ACO. De acordo com a recomendação das diretrizes americana e europeia: 32 (60 por cento) pacientes tinham indicação Classe I, 17 (32 por cento) Classe IIa, 1 (2 por cento) Classe IIb e 3 (6 por cento) Classe III. Estavam adequadamente tratados 21 (66 por cento) pacientes da Classe I e 13 (76 por cento) pacientes Classe IIa. Nesse subgrupo, 7/19 (37 por cento) pacientes com idade >75 anos estavam sendo anticoagulados, comparado a 22/30 (73 por cento) daqueles com idade inferior (p=0,016). Dentre os três pacientes com indicação Classe III, um estava incorretamente com prescrição de anticoagulante. Pela diretriz da SBC, 33 (62 por cento) recebiam terapêutica antitrombótica adequada. Não houve diferença na utilização correta de ACO, comparando-se a diretriz brasileira e diretrizes americana e europeia (55 por cento vs. 55 por cento). CONCLUSÃO: A terapêutica anticoagulante está sendo prescrita adequadamente na maioria dos pacientes com FA, embora esse índice ainda esteja muito aquém ...

OBJECTIVE: Although oral anticoagulation has proved beneficial for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and embolic risk factors, it is still underused. The objective of this study was to evaluate the adequacy of anticoagulation therapy in patients with AF followed in a private clinic specialized in cardiology, in accordance with the American and European societies of cardiology guidelines/2006 and with the Brazilian Guidelines/2003. METHODS: Between November 2005 and August 2006, we evaluated 7,486 electrocardiograms and selected 53 patients with AF and complete chart records. Clinical characteristics, including embolic risk factor, echocardiographic data and medical treatment were reviewed. RESULTS: Among the 53 patients (68±16 years; 29 men), 25 (48 percent) had hypertension, 20 (38 percent) heart failure and 3 (6 percent) diabetes. Among the 15 patients with high embolic risk, 13 (86 percent) were on oral anticoagulation. In accordance with the American and European guidelines: 32 (60 percent) patients were Class I, 17 (32 percent) Class IIa, 1 (2 percent) Class IIb and 3 (6 percent) Class III. Treatment was adequate in 21 (66 percent) Class I patients and 13 (76 percent) Class IIa. In these, anticoagulation therapy was used in 7/19 (37 percent) patients > 75 years compared to 22/30 (73 percent) younger. Among the 3 patients within Class III, 1 was incorrectly on OAC. According to Brazilian guidelines, 33 (62 percent) were on correctly indicated antithrombotic therapy. There was no difference in the appropriate prescription of oral anticoagulants, comparing the international and Brazilian guidelines (55 percent vs. 55 percent). CONCLUSION: According to recent guidelines, anticoagulant therapy has been adequately prescribed for the majority of AF patients, although this is still far from ideal, especially in a cardiology clinic. It is even more critical in the group of older patients.