Proportion of Patients with Implanted Permanent Pacemakers with Atrial Fibrillation Receiving Appropriate Medical Prophylaxis in North Wales

Background :Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased long‐term risk of stroke, heart failure, and mortality. Previous studies have demonstrated the suboptimal use of anticoagulation therapy in patients with AF.Methods :A retrospective survey of patients (N = 1,113) fitted with dual‐chamber pacemakers found 71 patients (age 69 ± 35, mean ± standard deviation) with atrial tachycardia and AF (defined as >5 minutes per day). Their medical records and anticoagulation status were investigated and used to stratify each patient for stroke risk with the Birmingham 2009 schema (CHA 2 DS 2 ‐VASc) and assessed to determine the rate of appropriate thromboembolism (TE) prophylaxis prescription.Results :The most common overall concomitant risk factor for stroke was hypertension (54%), followed by age ≥75 (51%), being female and previous stroke/transient ischemic attack/TE (39%). The average CHA 2 DS 2 ‐VASc score was 3.7 ± 1.6. Fifty‐six percent of the patients were not receiving appropriate anticoagulation therapy.Conclusion :This study demonstrates an underutilization of the oral anticoagulant warfarin in patients with known AF and that the clinicians may not be regarding current stroke risk factors when adopting a thromboprophylaxis strategy. (PACE 2012; 35:935–942)