IntegRAted Chronic Care Program at Specialized AF Clinic Versus Usual CarE in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation - RACE4

Rationale: The treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation is often inadequate due to poor guideline adherence. An integrated chronic care program (ICCP) at a specialized AF-clinic was found to be superior to usual care provided by a cardiologist in terms of cardiovascular hospitalizations and cardiovascular mortality.

Hypothesis: treatment at a specialized AF clinic is superior to usual care in terms of cardiovascular mortality and cardiovascular hospitalizations, cost-effectiveness, quality of life and guideline adherence.

Objectives: primary objective is to show that an ICCP reduces cardiovascular hospitalizations and mortality.

Study design: randomized controlled trial with two study arms: usual care provided by cardiologists (control) versus integrated chronic care program at a specialized AF clinic (intervention) in 8 hospitals in the Netherlands. The RACE4 is an event driven study. A total number of 246 events is needed. In total 1716 patients with newly diagnosed AF will be included. Total duration of the study is 5 years and 10 months with a minimal follow up of 1 year. Data is collected at inclusion, after 3, 6, 12 months, every year thereafter and at the end of the study.

Study population: Patients older than 18 year with newly diagnosed AF.

Intervention: The intervention is delivered through the specialized outpatient AF clinic. The multidisciplinary team at the AF clinic consists of a nurse practitioner or physician assistant or specialised cardiovascular nurse, cardiologist, and is guided by guidelines-based decision support software program based on the applicable ESC guideline recommendations. The use of a web-based patient centered management of patient's own medication (Medication manager TM) was optional. A standardized diagnostic, treatment and follow-up pathway was performed within the ICCP.