| Title: |
Lifestyle and risk factor modification in atrial fibrillation: A European Heart Rhythm Association survey |
| Authors: |
Mills, Mark T; Futyma, Piotr; Calvert, Peter; Penela, Diego; Roten, Laurent; Perrotta, Laura; Migliore, Federico; Lip, Gregory Y H; Gupta, Dhiraj; Chun, Julian K R |
| Contributors: |
Mills, Mark T; Futyma, Piotr; Calvert, Peter; Penela, Diego; Roten, Laurent; Perrotta, Laura; Migliore, Federico; Lip, Gregory Y H; Gupta, Dhiraj; Chun, Julian K R |
| Publication Year: |
2025 |
| Collection: |
Padua Research Archive (IRIS - Università degli Studi di Padova) |
| Subject Terms: |
Atrial fibrillation; Cardiac rehabilitation; Comorbidity; Lifestyle modification; Risk factors |
| Description: |
Aims: Lifestyle and risk factor modification (LRFM) forms a central pillar in the management of atrial fibrillation (AF). This European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) survey aims to assess current clinical practice regarding LRFM across EHRA countries. Methods and results: A 31-item questionnaire was developed and distributed amongst healthcare professionals via the EHRA and social media, between 23rd September and 21st October 2024. Of 258 respondents from 28 countries, 39.9% reported that their healthcare system is badly or very badly designed to deliver meaningful LRFM. Risk factors that respondents felt least confident managing included psychological distress (42.2% of respondents not confident), sleep-disordered breathing (33.8%), and obesity (22.4%). Respondents estimated that 70% of patients with AF at their institution may benefit from exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation, but that only 10% are referred for this. The most important barrier to cardiac rehabilitation in AF was identified as local programmes not accepting patients with AF only (42.1% of respondents). Despite 37.7% of respondents using a body mass index cut-off when deciding on catheter ablation suitability (with a mean cut-off 36.7 ± 5.4 kg/m2), only 23.5% of patients with obesity are referred for formal dietary advice. Lack of patient motivation or engagement was identified as the most important barrier to weight loss (41.3% of respondents). 89.6% of respondents routinely assess their patient's alcohol intake, whilst only 23.9% systemically assess for psychological distress, and 16.5% for sleep-disordered breathing. Conclusion: Delivering comprehensive LRFM in AF poses significant challenges. Improvements to healthcare infrastructures are required to successfully implement meaningful LRFM. |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| File Description: |
STAMPA |
| Language: |
English |
| Relation: |
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pmid/40155208; info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/wos/WOS:001462773200001; journal:EUROPACE; https://hdl.handle.net/11577/3550544 |
| DOI: |
10.1093/europace/euaf075 |
| Availability: |
https://hdl.handle.net/11577/3550544; https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euaf075 |
| Rights: |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess ; license:Creative commons ; license uri:http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.FEF4648A |
| Database: |
BASE |