Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyRandomised controlled trial
Effect of targeted education of patients with atrial fibrillation on unplanned cardiovascular outcomes: results of the multicentre randomized AF-EduCare trial
- Randomised controlled trial
- multicentre
Authors' conclusion
AF-EduCare showed that intensive targeted patient education did not lead to less unplanned cardiovascular events in the AF patient population as a whole, although subgroups might benefit.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF)follow-up 26.9 ± 9.4 months
- Participants
- 1,038 patients
- Comparison
- Targeted patient education vs standard care
- Primary endpoint
- Composite of:
- Cumulative unplanned CV hospitalizations and consultations
- ED visits for CV reasons
- CV death
- Follow-up
- Minimum 18 months
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Each group vs SCHazard ratio (CI)P value
In-person education
1.02(0.91–1.14)
P = 0.80Online education
1.18(0.95–1.46)
P = 0.65Further findings
AF-related knowledge
- Education (in-person and online) significantly improved AF-related knowledge vs standard care (SC)
- P < 0.001
Primary outcome by subgroup (exploratory)
- Heterogeneous effect over centres; positive impact of in-person education in asymptomatic AF, age ≤70 years and no history of HF
- exploratory subgroup analyses
Original publication
Effect of targeted education of patients with atrial fibrillation on unplanned cardiovascular outcomes: results of the multicentre randomized AF-EduCare trial. Europace. Published 20 January 2025. doi:10.1093/europace/euae211
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it