Ethnic Differences in Patient Perceptions of Atrial Fibrillation and Anticoagulation Therapy

Abstract

Background and Purpose— We hypothesized that different ethnic groups would have different levels of knowledge and perceptions of atrial fibrillation (AF) and of their antithrombotic therapy. To investigate this further, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of patients with documented chronic AF who were attending the anticoagulation clinic in our city center teaching hospital, serving a multiethnic population. Methods— We surveyed 119 patients (77 male; mean age 69±9 years [mean±SD]); of these, 39 were Indo-Asian (33%), 27 Afro-Caribbean (23%), and 53 white (44%). Results— Only 63% of patients in the overall study cohort were aware of their cardiac condition, with Indo-Asians and Afro-Caribbeans significantly less aware of AF compared with the white patients (P<0.001). When questioned about the perception of the severity of the underlying condition, the majority (61%) felt that AF was “not serious.” A large proportion were unaware that AF predisposed to thrombosis and stroke; among the ethnic groups, Ind...