Baseline characteristics of patients from Poland enrolled in the global registry of patients with recently diagnosed atrial fibrillation (RecordAF).

BACKGROUND The RecordAF study is the first worldwide, prospective, observational survey on the management of patients with recently diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF). AIM This paper presents the baseline characteristics of the Polish patients enrolled in this registry. METHODS The registry enrolled patients > or = 18 years old with recently diagnosed AF (< or = 12 months from diagnosis), eligible for rhythm or rate control strategy. The planned follow-up is 12 months. The aim of the registry is to prospectively assess the efficacy of treatment defined as (a) maintenance of sinus rhythm or (b) optimal rate control, as well as (c) the incidence of cardiovascular events. RESULTS A total of 303 Polish patients were enrolled in 21 centres across Poland (mean age 63 +/- 12 years, M/F ratio 174/129). Hypertension was present in 71.5% of the study subjects, ischaemic heart disease in 18.9%, and diabetes in 12.3%. In 47 (15.6%) patients, no potential cause of AF could be established. Symptoms related to AF were reported by 89.1% of patients. Mean duration of AF history was 2.9 +/- 3.5 months. At the time of inclusion, 191 (63.0%) patients were in sinus rhythm, and 211 (69.6%) patients were assigned to rhythm control strategy. Rhythm control strategy was chosen more frequently in patients with a history of paroxysmal AF and those in sinus rhythm at inclusion. Rate control strategy was chosen more frequently in those with a history of persistent AF in the previous year or presenting with AF at inclusion. CONCLUSIONS Analysis of the baseline characteristics of the Polish population of the RecordAF study indicates a high prevalence of co-morbidities among patients with AF. The choice of treatment strategy was associated with rhythm status at inclusion and AF pattern within the previous 12 months. The RecordAF study will provide prospective data on treatment decisions and treatment success of rhythm- or rate-control strategies in patients with AF treated by office- or hospital-based cardiologists.