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.