Gensini Gian Franco, Di Pasquale Giuseppe, Vaccaro Concetta Maria, Riva Letizia, Iori Ido, Nozzoli Carlo, Pengo Vittorio, Ricci Stefano, Santini Massimo, Toni Danilo
G Ital Cardiol (Rome). 2014 Jan;15(1):37-43. doi: 10.1714/1394.15517.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice, particularly in the elderly. AF is considered an independent predictor of mortality and risk factor for stroke. AF-related stroke is usually severe and associated with a high rate of mortality and disability. Despite its prevalence, AF is a poorly known disease and it is underestimated by the general population. The aim of the Censis survey was to analyze the levels of AF knowledge and information in the Italian population and the level of AF risk awareness by general practitioners and AF patients.
The survey included structured interviews with a sample of 1000 Italian citizens aged ≥18 years, 300 general practitioners, and 1200 AF patients.
The analysis confirmed low levels of knowledge of AF. In particular, the results showed that only one third of Italians know AF that is however perceived as a severe disease. In this subgroup, the risk of stroke associated with AF is known by 65%, but it is also widespread the wrong concept that AF is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction. The lack of knowledge of AF and its complications by the Italian population is due to educational gaps of general practitioners. In particular, only 50% of the Italian general practitioners perceive the thromboembolic risk of paroxysmal AF as comparable to that of permanent AF. In addition, there is an underuse of the scores for thromboembolic and hemorrhagic risk stratification recommended by current guidelines and a frequent use of antiplatelet therapy rather than oral anticoagulant therapy. There is also a low level of knowledge and awareness of the disease among AF patients. However, the majority of AF patients are aware of the importance of antithrombotic prophylaxis for stroke prevention.
This study demonstrates limited knowledge and awareness of AF in the general population and also among general practitioners and affected patients.
心房颤动（AF）是临床实践中最常见的心律失常，在老年人中尤为常见。AF被认为是死亡率的独立预测因素和中风的危险因素。与AF相关的中风通常很严重，且死亡率和致残率很高。尽管AF很常见，但它是一种鲜为人知的疾病，并且被普通人群低估。Censis调查的目的是分析意大利人群中AF的知识和信息水平以及全科医生和AF患者对AF风险的认知水平。
该调查包括对1000名年龄≥18岁的意大利公民、300名全科医生和1200名AF患者进行的结构化访谈。
分析证实对AF的了解程度较低。特别是，结果显示只有三分之一的意大利人知道AF，但AF被视为一种严重疾病。在这个亚组中，65%的人知道与AF相关的中风风险，但AF与心肌梗死风险增加相关这一错误观念也很普遍。意大利人群对AF及其并发症缺乏了解是由于全科医生的教育差距。特别是，只有50%的意大利全科医生认为阵发性AF的血栓栓塞风险与持续性AF相当。此外，目前指南推荐的血栓栓塞和出血风险分层评分使用不足，抗血小板治疗的使用频率高于口服抗凝治疗。AF患者对该疾病的知识和认知水平也较低。然而，大多数AF患者意识到抗血栓预防对预防中风的重要性。
本研究表明普通人群、全科医生和受影响患者对AF的知识和认知有限。
