Diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation by primary care physicians in Italy : a retrospective, observational analysis.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and is associated with a heavy burden of morbidity and mortality, mainly due to an increased risk of cerebrovascular events and cardiac failure. Oral anticoagulant (OAC) treatment prevents stroke and systemic thromboembolism in patients with AF and its use is strongly recommended in guidelines. However, its use in this patient group remains limited.

Knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors and awareness of non-pharmacological approach for risk prevention in young survivors of acute myocardial infarction. The cardiovascular risk prevention project "Help Your Heart Stay Young".

Background And Aims: Knowledge of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in young patients who experienced myocardial infarction (MI) is poorly described.

Methods And Results: Knowledge of traditional CVD risk factors, non-fatal cardiovascular events and of non-pharmacological factors able to reduce CVD risk and education level were evaluated by questionnaires in subjects who visited their family doctors. Sixty-one participants with history of MI in age <50 years (MI+) were compared with 3749 subjects with age <50 years, from the same population source, but without history of MI (MI-).

Individuals' cardiovascular risk profile projected by family doctors and individuals' knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors: a challenge for primary prevention. The cardiovascular risk prevention project "Help Your Heart Stay Young".

Background: Whether the practice of family doctors of assessing individuals' cardiovascular risk profile improves individuals' knowledge of risk factors in primary prevention has not been established. Accordingly, we evaluated patients' knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle in healthy subjects whose family doctors provided individual cardiovascular risk score.

Methods: Subjects who visited their family doctor in a time frame of 3 months, who accepted to fill-in a simple questionnaire measuring their knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors and of non-pharmacological interventions able to reduce cardiovascular risk were evaluated.

Cardiovascular secondary prevention: patients' knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors and their attitude to reduce the risk burden, and the practice of family doctors. The "Help Your Heart Stay Young" study.

Background: Whether the practice of family doctors of assessing the global cardiovascular risk profile improves the knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors and the attitude to lifestyle change in patients' secondary cardiovascular prevention is unknown.

Methods: We evaluated subjects who visited their family doctors and those with self-reported cardiovascular disease in the urban area of Naples, Italy. Patients self-administered a simple standard questionnaire to evaluate their knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors and of simple lifestyle modifications to reduce the cardiovascular risk burden.