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Association between comorbidities and left and right atrial dysfunction in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: Analysis of AF-RISK.

M. V. van Mourik, V. A. Arita, A. Lyon, J. Lumens, R. D. De With, J. V. van Melle, U. Schotten, S. Bekkers et al.

International Journal of Cardiology, 2022

344 participants · 13 citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND

To identify the association between comorbidities and left atrial (LA) and right atrial (RA) function in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF).

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study. Speckle-tracking echocardiography was performed in 344 patients with paroxysmal AF at baseline, and available in 298 patients after 1-year follow-up. The number of comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, body mass index >25 kg/m2, age > 65 years, moderate to severe mitral valve regurgitation and kidney dysfunction (estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 ml/min/1.73m2)) was determined and the association with atrial strain was tested.

RESULTS

Mean age of the patients was 58 (SD 12) years and 137 patients were women (40%). Patients with a higher number of comorbidities had larger LA volumes (p for trend <0.001), and had a decrease in all strain phases from the LA and RA, except for the RA contraction phase (p for trend 0.47). A higher number of comorbidities was associated with LA reservoir and conduit strain decrease independently of LA or RA volumes (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 respectively). Patients with 1-2 comorbidities, but not patients with 3 or more comorbidities, showed a further progression of impaired LA and RA function in almost all atrial strain phases at 14 (Heijman et al., 2021; Kirchhof et al., 2020; Vieira et al., 2014; Ramkumar et al., 2017; Greiser et al., 2009 [13-17]) months follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 344 participants or records.

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