Pathways to diagnosis of atrial fibrillation: findings from a qualitative study in primary care.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is underdiagnosed and approximately 10% of ischemic strokes occur in people with unrecognised AF.

Aim: To explore the patient path to diagnosis of AF and identify ways to improve detection DESIGN & SETTING: Qualitative study in UK primary care METHOD: We interviewed patients with a recent diagnosis of AF (<6 months) to understand their path to diagnosis, and primary care clinicians to explore their experience of detecting AF. The data were analysed using framework analysis.

Optimising prediction of mortality, stroke, and major bleeding for patients with atrial fibrillation: validation of the GARFIELD-AF tool in UK primary care electronic records.

Background: The GARFIELD-AF tool is a novel risk tool that simultaneously assesses the risk of all-cause mortality, stroke or systemic embolism, and major bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Aim: To validate the GARFIELD-AF tool using UK primary care electronic records.

Design And Setting: A retrospective cohort study using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) linked with Hospital Episode Statistics data and Office for National Statistics mortality data.

Two-year outcomes of UK patients newly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation: findings from the prospective observational cohort study GARFIELD-AF.

Background: The outcomes of patients newly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF) following the introduction of direct-acting oral anticoagulants are not well known.

Aim: To determine the 2-year outcomes of patients newly diagnosed with AF, and the effectiveness of oral anticoagulants in everyday practice.

Design And Setting: This was a prospective observational cohort study in UK primary care.

GARFIELD-AF: a worldwide prospective registry of patients with atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke.

The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the Field-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) examined real-world practice in a total of 57,149 (5069 retrospective, 52,080 prospective) patients with newly diagnosed AF at risk of stroke/systemic embolism, enrolled at over 1000 centers in 35 countries. It aimed to capture data on AF burden, patients' clinical profile, patterns of clinical practice and antithrombotic management, focusing on stroke/systemic embolism prevention, uptake of new oral anticoagulants, impact on death and bleeding. GARFIELD-AF set new standards for quality of data collection and analysis.

Temporal trends in antithrombotic treatment of real-world UK patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation: findings from the GARFIELD-AF registry.

Objective: To investigate evolving patterns in antithrombotic treatment in UK patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF).

Design: Prospective, multicentre, international registry.

Setting: 186 primary care practices in the UK.

Incidence of venous thromboembolism in care homes: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Care home residents have venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk profiles similar to medical inpatients; however, the epidemiology of VTE in care homes is unclear.

Aim: To determine the incidence of VTE in care homes.

Design And Setting: Observational cohort study of 45 care homes in Birmingham and Oxford, UK.

Patients' perceptions and experiences of the prevention of hospital-acquired thrombosis: a qualitative study.

Objective: To examine patients' understanding of hospital-associated thrombosis, and their experiences of thromboprophylaxis.

Design: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 31 patients requiring venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis following a recent hospital admission. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically using framework analysis.

An international longitudinal registry of patients with atrial fibrillation at risk of stroke (GARFIELD): the UK protocol.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an independent risk factor for stroke and a significant predictor of mortality. Evidence-based guidelines for stroke prevention in AF recommend antithrombotic therapy corresponding to the risk of stroke. In practice, many patients with AF do not receive the appropriate antithrombotic therapy and are left either unprotected or inadequately protected against stroke.