Baseline demographics of the patient cohort presenting to the ED for AF-related reasons, stratified by appropriateness of visit
| All patients | Assessed as appropriate | Assessed as inappropriate | ||
| n=356 | n=85 | n=271 | P value | |
| Age (mean±SD) | 67±13 | 67±14 | 67±13 | NS |
| Female (n (%)) | 160 (45) | 40 (47) | 120 (44) | NS |
| Duration of AF from time of initial diagnosis in months (mean±SD) | 14 (±9) | 15 (±10) | 14 (±9) | NS |
| Type of AF (n (%)) | ||||
| Paroxysmal | 245 (69) | 56 (66) | 189 (70) | NS |
| Persistent | 40 (11) | 11 (13) | 29 (11) | NS |
| Permanent | 71 (20) | 18 (21) | 53 (19) | NS |
| Comorbidities (n (%)) | ||||
| CHF | 34 (10) | 15 (18) | 19 (7) | p=0.007 |
| HTN | 164 (46) | 41 (48) | 123 (45) | NS |
| DM | 38 (11) | 10 (12) | 28 (10) | NS |
| Stroke/TIA | 35 (10) | 10 (12) | 25 (9) | NS |
| MIPADAP | 37 (10) | 14 (16) | 23 (9) | p=0.04 |
| CHADS2-VASc score (n (%)) | ||||
| 0 | 56 (16) | 10 (12) | 46 (17) | NS |
| 1 | 54 (15) | 18 (21) | 36 (13) | NS |
| ≥2 | 242 (68) | 55 (65) | 187 (69) | NS |
| Medications (n (%)) | ||||
| CC-blocker | 72 (20) | 17 (20) | 55 (20.3) | NS |
| ß-blocker | 170 (48) | 40 (47) | 130 (48) | NS |
| ARB | 26 (7) | 8 (9) | 18 (6.6) | NS |
| ACE-I | 47 (13) | 11 (13) | 36 (13) | NS |
| AAD | 90 (25) | 26 (31) | 64 (24) | NS |
| ASA | 68 (19) | 21 (25) | 47 (17) | NS |
| DOAC | 166 (46) | 38 (45) | 128 (48) | NS |
| Warfarin | 45 (13) | 17 (20) | 28 (10 | p=0.03 |
| OAC | 211 (59) | 55 (65) | 156 (58) | NS |
| Duration of AF before ED visit in minutes (n, mean±SD) | 717.1±332 | 773.7±301 | 699.2±340 | NS |
| Thirty-day symptoms (n (%))* | ||||
| Yes | 241 (68) | 62 (73) | 179 (66) | NS |
| No | 114 (32) | 23 (27) | 91 (34) | NS |
| Previous ED Visits (n (%)) | ||||
| 0 | 31 (9) | 10 (12) | 21 (8) | NS |
| 1 | 82 (23) | 17 (20) | 65 (24) | NS |
| 2 | 61 (17) | 11 (13) | 50 (19) | NS |
| 3 | 47 (13) | 15 (18) | 32 (12) | NS |
| 4 | 22 (6) | 4 (5) | 18 (7) | NS |
| 5 | 111 (31) | 28 (33) | 83 (31) | NS |
| ED visit every AF episode (n (%)) | ||||
| Yes | 94 (27) | 24 (28) | 70 (26) | NS |
| No | 149 (42) | 34 (40) | 115 (42) | NS |
*Symptoms with the 30 days preceding ED attendance related to AF.
AAD, antiarrhythmic drug; ACE-I, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor; AF, atrial fibrillation; ARB, Angiotensin II receptor blocker; ASA, aspirin; CC-blocker, calcium-channel blocker; CHF, congestive heart failure; DM, diabetes mellitus; DOAC, direct oral anticoagulant; ED, emergency department; HTN, hypertension; MIPADAP, myocardial infarction with peripheral arterial disease; OAC, oral anticoagulant; TIA, transient ischaemic attack.