Sp478prevalence of Atrial Fibrillation and Practice Patterns of Antithrombotic Therapy in a Population-Based Cohort Study of Hemodialysis Patients: The Vienna Investigation of Atrial Fibrillation and Thromboembolism in Hemodialysis Patients (Vivaldi)

Introduction and Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an underestimated comorbidity in hemodialysis (HD) patients that adds significant stroke and thromboembolic risk to a high burden of disease in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Data on the prevalence of AF in HD patients derived from patient-level cohort studies are scare. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of AF in a population-based cohort with patient-level data and the distribution of practice patterns of antithrombotic treatment for stroke prevention in AF. Methods: The Vienna InVestigation of AtriaL fibrillation and thromboembolism in patients on hemoDIalysis (VIVALDI) is a population-based cohort study with a cross-sectional baseline data capture phase and an ongoing prospective observational phase, with primary endpoints stroke, thromboembolism, and death. Out of 814 patients, approached at the seven main dialysis centers of Vienna, Austria, 626 patients (63.4% men, median age 66 years, 25th to 75th percentile 55 - 75) provided informed consent for participation. A structured interview with each individual patient was performed, recent ECGs were viewed and medical histories were verified with the electronic records of the HD centers.