This trial will gather data on atrial fibrillation patients including those with valvular and non-valvular forms of the condition. The registry will also track the impact of new anticoagulant therapies on stroke prevention, in addition to collating insights into patients’ satisfaction with their entire atrial fibrillation management, the impact of the condition and its management on patient quality of life, and the overall health economic burden of atrial fibrillation across Europe.
In 2010, the World Heart Federation highlighted the need for new multi-national registries to help fill knowledge gaps around atrial fibrillation management and outcomes. Enrolling 5,000 patients from across seven European countries, PREFER in AF will tackle this need by generating robust data on patient attitudes and management approaches, across a broad spectrum of different AF severities. As the AF treatment paradigm continues to change rapidly, these data will also help to establish whether current treatment developments are translating into optimally-balanced anticoagulation in practice, to give patients the best chance of a normal life.
According to Camm et al (European Heart Journal, 2010, 31:2369–429), atrial fibrillation is a leading cause of hospitalisation amongst all cardiac diseases and is the most frequent cardiac arrhythmia in clinical practice, with approximately one to two per cent of the general population being affected. Atrial fibrillation is also a major cause of stroke and strokes associated with the condition are more severe and have a poorer prognosis than non-atrial fibrillation related strokes (Lamassa et al; Stroke, 2001;32:392–398).
"Atrial fibrillation to Europeans is staggering, with numbers affected estimated to rise over the coming years. PREFER in AF is a timely patient registry, which will give us highly valuable insights into the current management of atrial fibrillation patients and the health economic impact of the condition, whilst informing us about how to move forward with patient treatment,” José Luis Zamorano, co-chair of the PREFER in AF Steering Committee and professor of Cardiology at the University Clinic San Carlos, Madrid, Spain, said.
“This essential patient registry is important as it is focused on patients’ quality of life and treatment satisfaction, which are key factors when considering optimal patient care. AF is a condition associated with high morbidity and mortality and when patients are satisfied with the potential impact of their treatment, they stay on treatment,” Zamorano commented.
Daiichi Sankyo is sponsor of this registry study.
