The Atrial FibriLlatiOn (FLOW-AF) Registry in the Middle East and North Africa: Patient Characteristics, Treatment...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Limited data exist on atrial fibrillation (AF) prevalence and outcomes in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
• The FLOW-AF registry was established to address this gap, focusing on newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics of NVAF patients in the MENA region.
• To assess current treatment patterns, including anti-thrombotic therapy, for NVAF in this population.
• To determine the clinical and economic outcomes of NVAF patients over a 12-month follow-up period.

Main Methods:

• A multi-center, prospective, observational study (FLOW-AF registry) was conducted across Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
• 1418 patients with newly diagnosed NVAF were enrolled, with data collected at baseline and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups.
• Data included demographics, AF characteristics, medical history, anti-thrombotic treatment, clinical events, and healthcare resource utilization.

Main Results:

• The study enrolled 1418 patients, with a mean age of 64.5 years. The mean CHA ₂ DS ₂ -VASc and HAS-BLED scores were 2.7 and 1.6, respectively.
• Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) were prescribed to 65.8% of patients, followed by antiplatelet therapy (16.4%) and vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) (12.9%).
• Observed 1-year clinical event rates included bleeding (1.7%), transient ischemic attack (1.7%), all-cause mortality (1.7%), stroke (0.6%), myocardial infarction (0.2%), and systemic embolism (0.08%).

Conclusions:

• The MENA NVAF patient population in this registry was characterized by younger age and lower mean baseline CHA ₂ DS ₂ -VASc and HAS-BLED scores compared to other regions.
• The observed rates of major clinical outcomes over one year were low in this cohort.
• Longer follow-up periods are necessary to fully ascertain the long-term clinical outcomes in this specific patient population.