Regional collaboration to improve atrial fibrillation care: Preliminary data from the Netherlands heart network
Why the study?
Guideline non-adherence and treatment variations cause suboptimal AF care, and while dedicated outpatient AF clinics benefit large academic hospitals, their effectiveness in regional collaborative networks of non-academic hospitals remains unproven.
Do outpatient AF clinics in a collaborative regional setting improve clinical outcomes in newly or recently diagnosed AF patients?
Population
Newly or recently diagnosed AF patients from 4 hospitals in the Netherlands Heart Network
Comparison
Outpatient AF clinics in a collaborative region
Design
Prospective cohort study
Follow-up
6 months
Authors
Discussion
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Member takes
Implication
May support safety of regional AF clinics in non-academic hospitals; leaves open comparative effectiveness versus usual care.
Structured PICO
Do outpatient AF clinics in a collaborative regional setting improve clinical outcomes in newly or recently diagnosed AF patients?
P
Population
Newly or recently diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) patients from 4 hospitals involved in the Netherlands Heart Network
I
Intervention
Outpatient AF clinics in a collaborative regional setting
O
Outcome
Patient relevant outcome measures (EHRA score, stroke, major bleedings, hospitalizations, serious adverse effects of medication, and mortality) at 6 months follow-uphard clinical
Regional collaboration through dedicated outpatient AF clinics in non-academic hospitals appears safe and feasible, with low rates of adverse events at 6 months.
Limitations
- Need to measure effectiveness on the long run
Cite This Study
Cremers et al. (2019) studied this question.