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. 2009 Jun;9(3):219-23.
doi: 10.7861/clinmedicine.9-3-219.

Atrial fibrillation in a primary care population: how close to NICE guidelines are we?

Bryan Loo  1 , Cath Parnell, Gerald Brook, Ed Southall, Ian Mahy
Affiliations

Atrial fibrillation in a primary care population: how close to NICE guidelines are we?

Bryan Loo et al. Clin Med (Lond). 2009 Jun.

Abstract

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation were published in June 2006. It was anticipated that they would potentially lead to increased demand for echocardiography (ECHO), increased access to secondary care services (for example for cardioversion), and require additional resources for monitoring anticoagulation. A primary care survey was therefore initiated in South Devon, in advance of publication of the guidelines as a snapshot of existing practice, to determine any additional resources and education required to meet the new standards. The main aim was to determine what proportion of patients were managed exclusively in primary care, how frequently patients were investigated by ECHO and whether anticoagulation was being appropriately targeted at patients at high risk of thromboembolic events.

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Figures

Fig 1.
Fig 1.
Age distribution of patients with atrial fibrillation in primary care.
Fig 2.
Fig 2.
Percentage of patients who received an echocardiogram (ECHO) by age group.
Fig 3.
Fig 3.
The number of patients in each group and the treatment received according to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence thromboembolic risk guidelines.
Fig 4.
Fig 4.
The number of patients in each group and the treatment received according CHADS2 risk guidelines.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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