Epidemiological profile of atrial fibrillation patients in a cardiology clinic of são bento do sul (Santa Catarina– Brazil)

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a cardiac arrhythmia characterized by complete disorganization of the electrical activity and atrial contraction and also associated with the occurrence of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) due to thrombus formation. The present study characterized the epidemiological profile of AF patients in a private community cardiology clinic in São Bento do Sul (Santa Catarina state - Brazil). This is a retrospective study whose data were obtained from medical records for the organized preparation of the epidemiological and clinical profile of patients from 2007 to 2017. Among 102 patients, 54% were male, 84% were older than 60 years, white ethnicity was predominant (85%), one third had morbid obesity, and only 10% of patients practiced physical activity. Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), diabetes, and dyslipidemias were present in 40%, 17%, and 17% of patients, respectively, while 25% were tobacco smokers, 10% had a history of rheumatic disease, and 3% were alcoholics. The main anticoagulant used for CVA prevention was warfarin (60.4%). Knowing the profile of cases, public health education can be promoted aimed to understand AF, its risk factors, and consequences, which, associated with clinical treatment and lifestyle changes, may contribute to mitigate modifiable risk factors, and reduce AF morbimortality.