Identifying and understanding the care pathway of patients with atrial fibrillation in Brazil and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-methods study

Abstract

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major risk factor for stroke. To enable improvements to AF diagnosis and follow-up care, understanding current patient pathways and barriers to optimal care are essential. We investigated the patient care pathways and their drivers, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patient pathways in a middle-income country setting, Brazil. Methods This mixed-methods study in São Paulo, included adults (≥18y) with AF from 13 primary/secondary healthcare facilities. Surveys using baseline, follow-up (administered ≥two months after baseline) and COVID-19 questionnaires (quantitative), and three focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted. Minimum sample size for the quantitative component was 236 and we aimed to reach saturation with at least three FGDs for the qualitative component. Descriptive statistics were used for quantitative data and a content analysis was used for qualitative data to identify themes related to AF diagnosis and follow-up care. Results 267 participants completed the baseline questionnaire: 25% were diagnosed in primary care, 65% in an emergency or inpatient department. At follow-up (n = 259), 31% visited more than one facility for AF care, and 7% had no follow-up. Intervals between international normalised ratio (INR) tests were increased during the pandemic, and the number of healthcare visits and availability of medication were reduced. Seventeen patients participated in three FGDs and revealed that AF diagnosis often occurred following a medical emergency and patients often delay care-seeking due to misconceptions about AF symptoms. Long waiting times, doctor/patient interactions and health system factors, such as doctor availability and the referral system, influence where participants visited for follow-up care. Conclusions Lack of public awareness and underdeveloped primary healthcare lead to delayed diagnosis, which impacts clinical outcomes and excess patient and healthcare system costs. Health system, care-provider, and pandemic factors disrupt timely and effective continuity of care.

The pathway to diagnosis and follow-up care for atrial fibrillation in Sri Lanka: a descriptive longitudinal study

“…Our previous research found that patients with AF must travel far distances to receive care at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital and is a barrier to optimal care (in pre-pandemic times), particularly for rural inhabitants 36 . Similar findings have been highlighted in our research in Brazil, indicating that access to INR tests is an issue in other LMICs 37 . NOACs can be an effective alternative for the warfarin especially in LMICs where there are limited INR facilities, however, the costs of NOACs are hindering their introduction in Sri Lanka and many other low or lower-middle-income countries 4 .…”

The pathway to diagnosis and follow-up care for atrial fibrillation in Sri Lanka: a descriptive longitudinal study

“…Our previous research found that patients with AF must travel far distances to receive care at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital and is a barrier to optimal care (in pre-pandemic times), particularly for rural inhabitants 36 . Similar findings have been highlighted in our research in Brazil, indicating that access to INR tests is an issue in other LMICs 37 .…”