The changing landscape of thromboprophylaxis for atrial fibrillation: insights from the ISPAF-2 survey

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained cardiac dysrhythmia. It represents a major public health problem due to increased mortality risk, reduced quality of life, and increased health costs [1, 2]. The prevalence of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) continues to increase worldwide, largely affecting the elderly, but also occurring in younger patients as a result of structural heart disease, autonomic imbalance, genetic abnormality, or previous cardiac surgery [3]. The rise in prevalence of AF is largely due to the increasing age of the population. About 1–2% of the total population is affected by AF, but the prevalence of this condition rises to ≈ 10% in individuals aged > 75 years [1, 2, 3]. In Europe, the number of adults with AF is rising markedly, with 9 million affected individuals in 2010, and 17 million expected patients in 2050, with an alarming impact on morbidity and mortality [4]. The associated fivefold risk of stroke is one of the most feared complications of... This is a preview of subscription content,...