The burden of atrial fibrillation and heart failure in hospitalized patients: A real-world survey in a nationwide snapshot.

Purpose: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) are common and commonly coexisting cardiovascular diseases in hospitalized patients. We report the absolute number and interrelation between AF and HF, assess the daily burden of both diseases on the healthcare system, and describe the medical treatment in a real-world, nationwide conducted snapshot survey.

Methods: A questionnaire was equally distributed to various healthcare institutions. Data on the baseline characteristics, prior hospitalizations, and medical treatments of all hospitalized patients with AF and HF at a predefined date were collected and analyzed.

Results: Seventy-five cardiological departments participated in this multicenter Greek nationwide study. A total of 603 patients (mean age, 74.5 ± 11.4 years) with AF, HF, or the combination of both were nationwide admitted. AF, HF, and the combination of both were registered in 122 (20.2%), 196 (32.5%), and 285 (47.3%) patients, respectively. First-time hospital admission was recorded in 273 (45.7%) of 597 patients, whereas 324 (54.3%) of 597 patients had readmissions in the past 12 months. Of the entire population, 453 (75.1%) were on beta-blockers (BBs), and 430 (71.3%) were on loop diuretics. Furthermore, 315 patients with AF (77.4%) were on oral anticoagulation, of whom 191 (46.9%) were on a direct oral anticoagulant and 124 (30.5%) were on a vitamin K antagonist.

Conclusion: Hospitalized patients with AF and/or HF have more than one admission within a year. Coexistence of AF and HF is more common. BBs and loop diuretics are the most commonly used drugs. More than three-quarters of the patients with AF were on oral anticoagulation.