To evaluate the current status of anticoagulation therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation(AF)in Xinjiang, and compare the two scoring systems(CHADS₂ and CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores) in determining the risk of strokes in AF patients in Xinjiang.

Subjects with AF were collected by searching the electronic and paper medical records from 35 hospitals in Xinjiang area during October 2013 to October 2014, and followed up for the incident strokes after 10 to 12 months.

Totally, 5 953 AF patients were enrolled in the study with the age of (67.9±12.0) years old, and men to women ratio of 1.44. Most patients were in age groups of 60-69 (23.92%) and 70-79 years (37.81%). Among patients with a CHADS₂ score of 1 or less, the CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores of these subjects ranged from 0 to 3. After 10 to 12 months of follow-up, 22 patients developed new strokes. Only 30.79% patients ( n=1 460) received the anticoagulation treatment among those (n=4 742) who need to be treated with anticoagulation drugs. In patients receiving anticoagulant therapy, 1 162 patients were treated with warfarin, and 298 patients with new oral anticoagulant drugs.Totally 1 110 patients treated with warfarin were monitored with international normalized ratio (INR). The median INR was 1.14 with only 97 cases meeting the recommended INR ranging of 2.0-3.0 in the guidelines. The compliance rate was 8.74%.

The current status of anticoagulation for AF in Xinjiang area is characterized by "low anticoagulation rate" and "low compliance rate". The CHA₂DS₂-VASc score is more suitable for predicting the risk of strokes in patients with non valvular atrial fibrillation in Xinjiang area.

Atrial fibrillation; Epidemiology; Anticoagulant therapy