Abstract

AIMS: To determine the extent of shared decision-making (SDM), during selection of oral anticoagulant (OAC) and rhythm control treatments, in patients with newly diagnosed AF.METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated survey data from 1,006 patients with new-onset AF enrolled at 56U.S. sites participating in the SATELLITE substudy of the Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (ORBIT II). Patients completed surveys at enrollment and at 6-month follow-up. Patients were asked about who made their AF treatment decisions. SDM was classified as one that the patient felt was an autonomous decision or a shared decision with their healthcare provider (HCP). Approximately half of patients reported that their OAC treatment decisions were made entirely by their HCP. Compared with those reporting no SDM, patients reporting SDM for OAC were more often female (47.2% vs 38.4%), while patients reporting SDM for rhythm control were more often male (62.2% vs 57.6%). The most important factors cited by patients during decision-making for OAC were reducing stroke and bleeding risk, and their HCP's recommendations. After adjustment, patients with self-reported understanding of OAC, and rhythm control options, had higher odds of having participated in SDM (OR 2.54, CI: 1.75-3.68 and OR 2.36, CI: 1.50-3.71, both p=<0.001, respectively).CONCLUSION: SDM is not widely implemented in contemporary AF practice. Patient understanding about available therapeutic options is associated with a more than a 2-fold higher likelihood of SDM, and may be a potential target for future interventions.

View details for DOI 10.1093/ehjqcco/qcaa040

View details for PubMedID 32392287