Prediction of risk factors for recurrence of atrial fibrillation in patients with arterial hypertension

Int J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2021 Dec;37(12):3413-3421. doi: 10.1007/s10554-021-02331-y. Epub 2021 Jul 3.

Abstract

This work aimed to assess the significance of risk factors for atrial fibrillation recurrence and predict the significance of these factors in the development of arterial hypertension in patients. For the first time, the authors performed prognostic analysis of atrial fibrillation recurrence probability taking into account the number and significance of risk factors. The study was conducted in 2018-2019 based on the Cardiovascular Department of Military Hospital 175, Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam). A total of 200 patients were diagnosed with arterial hypertension of I-III degree, divided into 2 groups: Group 1 (84 patients) without recurrence of atrial fibrillation, Group 2 (116 patients) with recurrences. All patients underwent echocardiographic and veloergometric studies, as well as Holter monitoring. Group 2 consisted of a significantly higher number of overweight patients (p ≤ 0.05) compared to Group 1. Also, more patients with a prolonged period of arterial hypertension (p ≤ 0.05), high blood pressure (p ≤ 0.02), and diabetes mellitus (p ≤ 0.01) were found in Group 1. A history of atrial fibrillation was more typical for Group 2 (p ≤ 0.03). Among risk factors, arterial hypertension of III degree (0.01) and left ventricular myocardial mass index (0.02) had the highest level of significance. Maximum unfavorable prognosis of atrial fibrillation recurrence is released under the action of all three factors. Under one risk factor (arterial hypertension), the degree of risk is quite high (1.4 times), but minimal compared to the other factors. With the fibrillation, the risk of recurrence increases slightly (1.6 times, p ≤ 0.05). The risk of atrial fibrillation recurrence is maximal when all three factors are combined (with atrial dilatation attached), with the risk increasing almost 2-fold (2.2-fold, p ≤ 0.01).

Keywords: Arterial hypertension; Atrial dilatation; Atrial fibrillation; Recurrence; Risk factors.

MeSH terms

  • Atrial Fibrillation* / diagnosis
  • Atrial Fibrillation* / epidemiology
  • Electrocardiography, Ambulatory
  • Humans
  • Hypertension* / complications
  • Hypertension* / diagnosis
  • Hypertension* / epidemiology
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Recurrence
  • Risk Factors