AWARENESS OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AND ITS RISK FACTORS
M.Gwechenberger, A. Hammer, N. Pavo, M. Huelsmann, J. Strametz-Juranek
Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna Austria
Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia.
Methods: The study included 91 patients , randomly chosen to complete an anonymous questonnaire to assess their knowledge about AF and its risk factors.
Results: : Only 48,9% of the patients knew the term AF and 44% assumed an association between AF and stroke. In contrast only 20,7% of the patients were aware of the symptoms of AF, but 16,3% complained of irregular heart rhythm. Only 4,35 % of the patients had a diagnosis of AF, but 13% had a relative with AF. Forty one percent of the patients didnīt know anything about risk factors. However most patients could only identify some of the risk factors.
Conclusions: Roughly half of the patients know the term AF and see some association between AF and stroke. The knowledge about risk factors of Af is even worse.
|
|
%
|
| Coronary artery disease |
35,9 |
| Hypertension |
29,3 |
| Adipositas |
22,8 |
| Thyroid disease |
1,1 |
| Cardiomyopathy |
29,3 |
| Family history of AF |
9,8 |
| Alcohol consumption |
14,1 |
| Diabetes |
8,7 |
| Lack of exercise |
21,7 |
| Hyperlipidemia |
19,6 |
| smoking |
20,3 |
