Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Current management of atrial fibrillation in routine practice according to the last ESC guidelines: an European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) physician survey—how are we dealing with controversial approaches?
Authors' conclusion
There is marked heterogeneity in AF management and limited accordance to last guidelines in the EHRA community.
Study context
- Population
- Physicians of the EHRA community (EHRA Research Network, National Societies, social media), January–February 202361% from university hospitals
- Participants
- 181 physicians
- Outcome
- Current clinical practice in AF management according to last ESC guidelines
Methodological detailsphysician survey, 30 multiple-choice questionnaire
- Physician survey
- 30 multiple-choice questionnaire
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Atrial fibrillation (AF) screening regularly performed in high-risk patients
- 57%
- Access to ≥1 programme for diagnosing/managing comorbidities and lifestyle modifications (marked heterogeneity between countries)
- 42%
- DOACs preferred antithrombotic
- 97%
- Rhythm control preferred: symptomatic vs asymptomatic paroxysmal AF
- 97% vs. 77%
- Rhythm control preferred: low vs high recurrence risk persistent AF
- 90% vs. 72%
- Rhythm control preferred: permanent AF
- 20%
- Ablation first-line for symptomatic paroxysmal AF
- 69%
- Ablation first-line for persistent AF with markers of atrial disease
- 57%
- Ablation performed independently of symptoms
- 15%
- Persistent AF: pulmonary vein isolation only
- 68%
- Persistent AF: additional lesions
- 32%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Current management of atrial fibrillation in routine practice according to the last ESC guidelines: an EHRA physician survey—how are we dealing with controversial approaches? Europace. Published 16 January 2024. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it