Abstract Background In 2002, the European Society of Cardiology conducted the Euro Heart Survey (EHS), while in 2014concluded 1-year follow-up of the EURObservational Research Programme AF (EORP-AF) Pilot Registry. Methods We analysed differences in clinical profiles, therapeutic approaches and outcomes between these two cohorts after propensity score matching (PSM). Results After PSM, 5206 patients were analysed. In EORP-AF there were more elderly patients than EHS (p < .001). EORP-AF patients were more burdened with cardiovascular (CV) and non-CV comorbidities, with a higher proportion of patients with high thromboembolic risk. EORP-AF patients used more oral-anticoagulant (OAC) (p < .001). At 1-year follow-up EORP-AF patients had lower risk for thromboembolic and CV events, readmission for AF and other CV reasons (all p < .001), showing conversely a higher risk for CV death (p = .015). Kaplan-Meier curves showed that EORP-AF patients had higher risk for CV death (p < .0001) and all-cause death (p = .0019). Cox regression confirmed that EORP-AF patients were at higher risk for CV death (p = .021). Conclusions We found significant changes in AF epidemiology over a decade in Europe, with older patients, more burdened with comorbidities. A greater use of OAC was found. Despite a reduction in risk for thromboembolic events, a high risk of CV-related death was still evident.