Clinical InvestigationsElectrophysiologyProgression to chronic atrial fibrillation after the initial diagnosis of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: Results from the Canadian Registry of Atrial Fibrillation
Section snippets
Canadian Registry of Atrial Fibrillation population
The CARAF enrolled 1097 patients between 1990 and 1996 at 7 centers in 6 cities across Canada.17 Patients were enrolled at the time of their initial electrocardiographically confirmed diagnosis of atrial fibrillation or flutter. Patients were enrolled from offices of family physicians and specialists, emergency rooms, and during hospitalization for other diagnoses. Screening took place in the hospitals of the investigators in a continuous fashion by evaluating emergency room logs and screening
Baseline characteristics
Of the 757 patients in the cohort, 290 were female (38.3%). The age ranged from 14 to 91 years at the time of enrollment, with a median age of 64 years (first quartile = 53; third quartile = 71; mean = 61.2 + 14.2 years). Mean blood pressures were systolic 133.7 + 24.9 mm Hg and diastolic 81.6 + 15.8 mm Hg. The mean heart rate, during the initial presentation with AF, was 124.4 + 34.0 beats/min. β-Blockers were used by 12.3% of patients, whereas 41.0% patients were on antiarrhythmic medication
Discussion
The CARAF provides a unique opportunity to follow the undirected observational follow-up of patients presenting with paroxysmal AF. It is unique because it enrolls patients at the time they engage the health care system with AF and is the first large study to evaluate the progression to CAF in this population. Because CARAF physician investigators did not direct the care of enrolled patients, CARAF also provides an opportunity to monitor patterns of practice. Other studies have evaluated the
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The CARAF Study is currently supported by an unrestricted research grant from Procter and Gamble Pharmaceuticals (1998-2002) and was previously supported by Knoll Pharma Canada (1990-1996) and Dupont Pharma Canada (1997).