Distinct differences in clinical presentation and management of atrial fibrillation (AF) were observed in geriatric versus younger patients from several registries. However, there is a lack of information about age-related AF profile in our population.

To raise, according of age, therapeutic particularities of patients recruited from the prospective NATURE AF registry (NAtional TUnisian REgistry of Atrial Fibrillation).

Between March and June 2017, we prospectively registered information of 912 patients with a recently diagnosed AF. Rhythm management and anticoagulation strategies were compared between two groups of geriatric (>75 years old) and younger (<75 years old) populations.

Twenty-three percents of patients had more than 75 years old. Underlying cardiopathy was similar between the two groups (P=0.181). However, there was age difference concerning the pattern of AF (P=<0.001). In fact, permanent AF was predominant in geriatric population (36%) in contrast to predominant paroxystic AF in younger population (40%). Rate control strategy was significantly more adopted in older patients (P<0.001). Concerning the rate control therapies, digoxin was more prescribed in this population P=0.007) in contrast to the similar use of B-blockers (P=0.251). When rhythm control strategy was adopted, there was no significant difference in the use of the majority of antiarrythmic drugs, however, only flecaine was less prescribed in geriatric than younger population (P<0.001).). There was no age difference in percent of prescribed anticoagulation medications for both vitamin K antagonists (P=0.125) and novel oral anticoagulants (P=0.165).

NATURE AF registry showed that geriatric patients differ from youngs in term of rhythm management strategy. However, both groups shared, unexpectedly, similar anticoagulation therapy use.