Patients with atrial fibrillation in Cantonal Hospital Zenica: hypertension as the most common modifiable risk factor
Year: 2011
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent sustained cardiac arrhythmia in developed countries. It is a disease of the elderly and it is common in patients (pts) with structural heart disease. Hypertension, heart failure and valvular heart disease are predisposing factors to AF. Objectives: To evaluate predisposing factors for development of AF. Methods: From June 2000 to January 2011, 2965 consecutive pts with AF were studied during echocardiographic check-up in Cantonal Hospital Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the 2-D transthoracic echocardiography, pts were divided into groups based on dominative underlying heart diseases. Electrocardiographically documented AF was subdivided into two groups: transitory and chronic. Binary logistic regression was used to investigate relationship of gender, age, hypertension, diabetes and underlying heart diseases with the type of AF. Results: The median age was 72 years, age range between 16 and 96 years. Chronic AF was observed in 69.9% pts. There were 48.3% of males. Hypertensive heart disease (HHD) was the most common underlying heart disease (38.5%) followed by dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), 25.3%, coronary artery disease (CAD), 14.7% and valvular heart disease (VHD), 11.2%. Lone AF was diagnosed in only 28 pts, mostly in younger males (median age 49 years, range 29–60, men 71%). Hypertension and diabetes were found in 72.5% and 17.8% pts, respectively, and primary in females. Conclusion: The aim of this paper was to elucidate cardiopulmonary and circulatory comorbidities associated with AF in the largest sample of patients in Central Bosnia. HHD was by far the most prevalent associated medical condition in pts with AF. AF without underlying heart disease was present in only 1%, mostly in younger pts with transitory AF. Chronic AF was predominant in groups with advanced cardiac remodeling such as DCM and VHD, in mostly elderly patients.
Authors: Enes Abdović, Slaven Abdović, Velibor Blažević
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2097205877