Objective: To assess the prevalence of permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) in community-dwelling subjects aged 85 and to determine the anticoagulation therapy rate.
Design: Community-based survey of inhabitants aged 85 years.
Participants: Participants were 328 people born in 1924 and assigned to 7 primary health care teams.
Measurements: Sociodemographic variables, Barthel Index, the Spanish version of the Mini-Mental State Examination, Mini Nutritional Assessment, Charlson Index, social risk, quality of life, and prevalent chronic diseases were assessed. Permanent AF was determined by patient interview, treatment prescriptions, and clinical records.
Results: The sample included 202 women (61.6%) and 126 men. In 41 (12.5%) participants permanent AF was diagnosed; 25 (60.9%) were on anticoagulant oral therapy and 9 (21.9%) were receiving antiplatelet therapy. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, previous diagnosis of heart failure (P < .001, OR 4.170, 95% CI 1.927-9.024) and stroke history (P < .03, OR 2.439, 95% CI 1.101-5.401) were significantly associated with the diagnosis of permanent AF.
Conclusion: AF is quite prevalent in 85-year-old subjects. A large percentage of patients with AF were receiving chronic anticoagulant therapy. The percentage of patients who were not receiving prophylactic treatment was low.
Copyright © 2012 American Medical Directors Association, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.