Does an interdisciplinary outpatient atrial fibrillation (AF) clinic affect the number of acute AF admissions? A retrospective cohort study

Aims and objectives To investigate the impact of a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic for patients with atrial fibrillation‐clinic on the number of acute hospitalisations for atrial fibrillation compared with usual outpatient care for this condition before the establishment of the atrial fibrillation‐clinic. Background Guidelines recommend a structured outpatient clinic follow‐up in multidisciplinary teams for patients with atrial fibrillation due to fewer hospitalisations and death. However, the evidence base is weak. Design The study is a retrospective cohort study including a total of 129 patients from the cardiac outpatient clinic at a large Danish University Hospital. The study population consisted of two groups: a usual care group before a dedicated atrial fibrillation‐clinic was established (n = 73) and the atrial fibrillation‐clinic group (n = 56). The primary endpoint was acute hospitalisation for atrial fibrillation. Methods Cox regression was used to assess the hazard ratio for acute hospitalisations for atrial fibrillation. Results When comparing the atrial fibrillation‐clinic with the usual care group, adjusted for age and sex, this study showed a trend towards more frequent acute hospitalisations in the usual care group. Conclusion The results of this study are hypothesis‐generating and should lead to larger prospective trials to evaluate the impact of dedicated multidisciplinary atrial fibrillation‐clinics on atrial fibrillation‐related issues as acute hospitalisations for atrial fibrillation, symptoms and quality of life. Relevance to clinical practice Follow‐up in a dedicated multidisciplinary AF‐clinic might empower patients better to cope with acute arrhythmia symptoms.