Methods:
The JoFib registry is a prospective, observational, multicenter registry
of consecutive patients aged ≥18 years who were diagnosed to have AF in
30 hospitals and out-patient cardiology clinics in Jordan and one
hospital in the Palestinian Territories from May 2019 to October 2020.
Baseline data, including demographic and clinical characteristics, were
collected using a standardized clinical study form at the time of
enrollment. Patients were followed up at 1, 6, and 12 months after
enrollment. Baseline data included clinical profiles, cardiovascular
risk factors, laboratory data, electrocardiographic (EKG), and
echocardiographic features. CHA2DS2-VASc
and HAS-BLED scores were calculated for each patient. Utilization of
pharmacotherapy including oral anticoagulant medications (OAC) was
evaluated at the time of enrollment in the study. One-year follow-up
data included incidence of stroke and systemic embolism, acute coronary
syndrome, major and minor bleeding, and utilization of anticoagulant
therapy. The present report compares the clinical characteristics and
outcomes of young AF patients (<50 years of age) and older AF
patients (≥50 years of age).
Diagnosis of AF was confirmed by (1) a 12-lead EKG, (2) a rhythm strip
lasting >30 seconds, (3) one or more episodes of AF on a
Holter monitor, or (4) a diagnosis by a treating cardiologist. AF types,
namely the first attack of AF, paroxysmal AF, persistent AF, and
permanent AF, were defined according to the American College of
Cardiology/American Heart Association/Heart Rhythm Society 2019 update
on guidelines for the Treatment of patients with AF(16).
CHA2DS2-VASc score, and HAS-BLED score
were calculated for each patient according to the 2014 AHA/ACC/HRS
Guideline on the management of AF (17).
The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki
and Good Clinical Practice guidelines and was approved by the
Institutional Review Board of each of the participating hospitals. Every
patient signed a written informed consent. The study is registered in
ClinicalTrials.gov, unique identifier number NCT03917992. The privacy
and confidentiality of the patients were maintained throughout the study
and patients had the right to withdraw from the study at any time
without having to provide an excuse for their decision.
Continuous data were described using mean and standard deviation.
Categorical data, such as age group, gender, and other factors were
presented as counts and percentages. Chi-square tests were performed to
compare percentages between the two age groups. Independent t test was
used to compare means between the two groups. IBM SPSS Statistics for
Windows (Version 25.0. Armonk, NY) was used for the analysis. A p-value
of ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.