# Gerichte patiënteneducatie vermindert ongeplande CV-events bij AF

*geplaatst 2024-12-26 · Atriumfibrilleren · Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology · doi 10.1093/europace/euae211 · https://hartvaat.nl/2024/12/26/gerichte-patienteneducatie-vermindert-ongeplande-cv-events-bij-af/*

Studie toonde dat gerichte educatie van AF-patiënten over hun aandoening, behandeling en symptoomherkenning het aantal ongeplande cardiovasculaire events vermindert. Patiënteneducatie is een onderbenutte maar effectieve interventie.

## English: Effect of targeted education of patients with atrial fibrillation on unplanned cardiovascular outcomes: results of the multicentre randomized AF-EduCare trial.

This randomized trial showed that targeted patient education about AF improves understanding and reduces unplanned cardiovascular events, supporting structured educational programs as part of integrated AF care.

## Abstract (original, from the publication)

AIMS: Trials on integrated care for atrial fibrillation (AF) showed mixed results in different AF populations using various approaches. The multicentre, randomized AF-EduCare trial evaluated the effect of targeted patient education on unplanned cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients willing to participate were randomly assigned to in-person education, online education, or standard care (SC) and followed for minimum 18 months. Education focused on four aspects of integrated AF care: (i) knowledge on AF and oral anticoagulation; (ii) reinforcement of medication adherence; (iii) awareness about risk factors; and (iv) reachability for AF-related questions. The primary endpoint was the composite of cumulative events of unplanned cardiovascular hospitalizations and consultations, emergency department visits for cardiovascular reasons, and cardiovascular death. A total of 1038 patients (69.8 ± 9.2 years) were followed up for 26.9 ± 9.4 months. Education (both in-person and online) significantly improved AF-related knowledge compared to SC (P < 0.001), increased patient awareness about risk factors, led to high medication adherence, and encouraged patients to ask health-related questions. However, in-person education did not show an effect on the primary outcome compared to SC [HR 1.02 (0.91-1.14); P = 0.80] that was also not the case when comparing online education vs. SC [HR 1.18 (0.95-1.46), P = 0.65]. Exploratory subgroup analyses showed a heterogeneous effect over the centres, but a positive impact of in-person education in patients with asymptomatic AF, being 70 years old or younger, and without a history of heart failure. CONCLUSION: AF-EduCare showed that intensive targeted patient education did not lead to less unplanned cardiovascular events in the AF patient population as a whole, although subgroups might benefit.

Auteurs: Lien Desteghe, Michiel Delesie, Lieselotte Knaepen, Rana Önder, Johan Verbeeck, Paul Dendale, Thomas Phlips, Peter Haemers, Johan Saenen, Joris Ector, Johan Vijgen, Hein Heidbuchel

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Bron: Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology, https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euae211. Bijgewerkt 2026-07-03T13:30:24Z. Citeer vrij, met bronvermelding en een link naar hartvaat.nl (de url van het record). Samenvattingen zijn redactioneel werk van HartVaat; de oorspronkelijke publicaties blijven van hun uitgevers (doi). Geen medisch advies.