Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. Release: One Year Data From The PREFER In AF Registry Show Significant Changes In Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Management In Europe And Implementation Of Clinical Guidelines

BARCELONA, Spain, Sep 02, 2014 (PR Newswire) -- BARCELONA, Spain, September 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Registry provides new insights into AF treatment decisions, including patients' quality of life and treatment satisfaction[1],[2]

ESC Congress 2014, 02 September 2014, Barcelona, Spain: Daiichi Sankyo today announced one year results of the PREvention oF thromboembolic events-European Registry in Atrial Fibrillation (PREFER in AF), revealing significant changes to the treatment of AF patients in clinical practice following an update to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines on AF management in 2012.[3] While the results indicate that improvements have been made, further changes are needed to address key treatment challenges and patient concerns.[1],[2]

Data from the registry, sponsored by Daiichi Sankyo, reveals that the majority of patients with AF are being treated with oral anticoagulants (82.3% patients receiving OACs at baseline and 80% at one year follow up).[2] The percentage of patients receiving novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) has more than doubled in the past year (from 6.1% to 12.6%),[2] and patients receiving vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) has reduced from 66.3% to 61.8%,[2] indicating that recent ESC guideline updates, which recommend NOACs as broadly preferable to VKAs in the vast majority of patients with non-valvular AF, are being increasingly implemented in clinical practice.[3] The registry also observed a reduction in AF patients receiving antiplatelet agents (APs),[2] further supporting adherence to the latest guidance.[3]

Helping physicians to make informed future therapeutic decisions based on real-life data, the PREFER in AF registry further reveals factors which may influence treatment satisfaction and patient complaints contributing to a treatment switch to NOACs (213 patients) compared to those stably treated on VKAs (2102 patients). These include mobility problems (13.3% vs. 7.3%), complaints around dose adjustment (9.8% vs. 5.4%), and discomfort with bruising or pain (8.5% vs. 5.1%). Anxiety and depression traits also appear to influence choice of treatment.[1]

Raffaele De Caterina, Professor of Cardiology and Director, University Cardiology Division G. D'Annunzio University, Chieti Ospedale Clinicizzato SS. Annunziata: "One year results from PREFER in AF come at a pivotal time for AF management in Europe. The increase in NOAC uptake demonstrates that guideline recommendations are being implemented in clinical practice. NOACs may offer potential benefits over traditionally used VKAs, which are associated with several limitations like regular blood tests, frequent dose adjustments, interaction with a variety of foods and other medications. Because of this NOACs have the potential to offer patients an improved quality of life."

PREFER in AF enrolled 7,243 AF patients across 461 centres in seven European countries, and collected one year follow up data from 6,412 patients, providing real-life insights into the key challenges faced by patients in AF and their physicians.[1],[4] VKAs such as warfarin have traditionally been the mainstay of AF management, but can present significant challenges in clinical practice; including the need for routine monitoring and dose adjustment, a narrow therapeutic window and several drug and food interactions.[5],[6 ]

AF is an important health concern in Europe, affecting over six million people and this figure is expected to double over the next 50 years.[7] A recent update to European guidelines on AF management highlight the high incidence of stroke in AF patients and recommend anticoagulant therapy for all patients in AF, except those at low risk.[3] By collating data on patient characteristics, prescription patterns, clinical outcomes, quality of life, treatment satisfaction and adherence to therapy, PREFER in AF helps to provide insight into the management of AF.[1],[4],[8]

To gain further insight into the long-term management of AF, Daiichi Sankyo has initiated the Prolongation PREFER in AF registry, which will collect additional up-to-date real-life data from approximately 5,000 patients across approximately 325 centres in nine European countries.[9]

For more information, please contact: Daria Munsel Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH Tel: +49(89)7808728 (Office)

Notes to editors:

About PREFER in AF

PREFER in AF is a multinational, multicentre disease registry, which enrolled 7,243 patients across 461 centres in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the UK and collected one year follow up data from 6,412 AF patients.[1],[4]

PREFER in AF has been designed to explore management of AF patients in clinical practice, in terms of outcomes, patient satisfaction and also from an economic perspective.[8],[10] The registry provides information on the clinical outcomes of patients on different treatment regimens, as well as other important considerations such as management of AF patients, adherence to therapy, quality of life and treatment satisfaction.[8]

The Prolongation PREFER in AF registry was designed to both prolong the registry to improve clinical understanding of AF management, as well as to extend this registry to two additional countries, Belgium and the Netherlands, to further improve clinical understanding of NOAC management.[9] Enrolment of new patients will take place in all regions, and data will be collected from 5,000 patients across approximately 325 centres in nine European countries (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom), over a 24 month period.[9]

The observation criteria for PREFER in AF include:[10]

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