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Observational Study
. 2024 Jul;41(7):2868-2889.
doi: 10.1007/s12325-024-02895-w. Epub 2024 May 27.

The Atrial FibriLlatiOn (FLOW-AF) Registry in the Middle East and North Africa: Patient Characteristics, Treatment Patterns and Outcomes

Wael A Almahmeed  1 , Ahmad Hersi  2 , Natasha Khalife  3 , Mohamed Fathy Soliman Gamaleldin  4 , Sid Ahmed Kherraf  4 , Mohamed A Sobhy  5   6   7 , Renato D Lopes  8 , Maurice Khoury  9
Affiliations
Observational Study

The Atrial FibriLlatiOn (FLOW-AF) Registry in the Middle East and North Africa: Patient Characteristics, Treatment Patterns and Outcomes

Wael A Almahmeed et al. Adv Ther. 2024 Jul.

Abstract

Introduction: Limited data on atrial fibrillation (AF) are available from the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA). The aim of the FLOW-AF registry was to evaluate the characteristics, treatment patterns, and clinical and economic outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) in MENA.

Methods: This multi-center, prospective, observational study (the FLOW-AF registry) enrolled patients newly diagnosed with NVAF across Egypt, Lebanon, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates. The data collection occurred at enrollment (baseline) and after 6- and 12-months (follow-up). Baseline data included demographics, AF characteristics, medical history, and anti-thrombotic treatment patterns. Clinical events, healthcare resource utilization, and direct costs were collected at follow-up.

Results: The study enrolled a total of 1418 patients (52.7% males and 47.3% females). The mean age of the patients was 64.5 years and 90.6% were white. The mean (standard deviation) CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED risk scores were 2.7 (1.6) and 1.6 (1.2), respectively. Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants, antiplatelet therapy, and vitamin K antagonists were prescribed to 65.8%, 16.4%, and 12.9% patients, respectively. During follow-up, the following rates of clinical outcomes were observed: bleeding events (1.7%), transient ischemic attack (1.7%), all-cause mortality (1.7%), stroke (0.6%), myocardial infarction (0.2%), and systemic embolism (0.08%).

Conclusions: This MENA patient population was younger and had lower mean baseline CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores. The rates of clinical outcomes over 1-year in this study were low. Longer follow-up is required to comprehensively assess clinical outcomes in this patient population.

Keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Clinical outcomes; Healthcare resource utilization; Middle East and North Africa; Oral anticoagulants.

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References

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