Table I.
Characteristics of all 2274 patients with atrial fibrillation, n (%).
| OAC treatment (n = 1087) | No OAC treatment (n = 1187) | |
| Age, years: | ||
| Age 0–64 years | 140 (12.9) | 260 (21.9) |
| Age 65–74 years | 320 (29.4) | 251 (21.1) |
| Age 75–89 years | 607 (55.8) | 547 (46.1) |
| Age 90 years and more | 20 (1.8) | 129 (10.9) |
| Female sex | 473 (43.5) | 496 (41.8) |
| Type of AF: | ||
| Isolated episode of AF | 89 (8.2) | 310 (26.1) |
| Paroxysmal AF | 122 (11.2) | 202 (17.0) |
| Persistent AF | 191 (17.6) | 184 (15.5) |
| Permanent AF | 673 (61.9) | 466 (39.3) |
| Unclassified type of AF | 12 (1.1) | 25 (2.1) |
| Risk factors for embolism: | ||
| Congestive heart failure | 305 (28.1) | 230 (19.4) |
| Hypertension | 812 (74.7) | 720 (60.7) |
| Diabetes mellitus | 200 (18.4) | 189 (15.9) |
| Previous stroke or TIA or arterial embolism | 301 (27.7) | 204 (17.2) |
| Vascular disease | 238 (21.9) | 240 (20.2) |
| One or more risk factors for embolism | 1063 (97.8) | 1025 (86.4) |
| Risk factors for bleeding: | ||
| Renal failure or liver failure | 14 (1.3) | 19 (1.6) |
| Predisposition for bleedinga | 216 (19.9) | 389 (32.8) |
| Inability to comply with INR monitoring | 4 (0.4) | 96 (8.1) |
| Persistent uncontrolled hypertension | 1 (0.1) | 2 (0.2) |
| Alcohol abuse | 3 (0.3) | 29 (2.4) |
| No risk factors for bleeding | 858 (78.9) | 733 (61.8) |
| Other indications for OAC treatmentb | 126 (11.6) | 25 (2.1) |
Notes: OAC = oral anticoagulant. AF = atrial fibrillation. a = Previous intracranial haemorrhage, previous gastrointestinal bleeding, anaemia, thrombocytopenia, bleeding disorder, or other reasons for predisposition for bleeding (see Appendix). b = Chronic venous thromboembolism, mechanical or biological heart valve or planned cardioversion without other indications for OAC.