Abstract
BACKGROUND: The epidemiological landscape and treatment efficacy of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the Middle East, notably in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), remain under-explored, presenting a distinct demographic and clinical pattern compared to Western populations. The FLOW-AF Registry aimed to bridge this knowledge gap by examining the characteristics, treatment patterns, clinical outcomes, and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) of newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients in the UAE, contributing to the scant literature on NVAF management in the region. METHODS: This multicenter, prospective observational study enrolled patients diagnosed with NVAF across six sites in the UAE. Data were collected on demographics, medical history, treatment decisions, clinical outcomes, and HCRU over a 12-month observation period. RESULTS: A total of 198 patients were enrolled, with a mean age of 63.44 years. Mean CHA₂DS₂-VASc and HAS-BLED scores at baseline were 2.95 and 1.76, respectively. Most patients (55.77%) were prescribed non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs). One-year incidence rates for major clinical events were 6.7% for all-cause mortality, 2.8% for bleeding complications, and 0.6% for myocardial infarction. No strokes were reported during the study period. CONCLUSION: The FLOW-AF Registry provides valuable insights into NVAF management in the UAE, demonstrating a distinct patient profile and a preference for NOACs. The NVAF cohort in the UAE was characterized by a younger demographic with lower risk scores and lower rate of clinical events relative to global counterparts. The findings underscore the evolving approach to AF management in the UAE, suggestive of a shift towards NOAC use but also highlights the need for ongoing research to fully understand long-term outcomes and validate current treatment paradigms in the UAE.