Age is the dominant risk factor for atrial fibrillation; Etiology comparative study

Resumen

BACKGROUND- Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia in elderly persons and a potent risk factor for stroke. It is characterized by a steeply increasing prevalence with advancing age.

OBJECTIVE- The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and its risk factors in compare with advancing age.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS- A cross-sectional study was carried out on one hundred eleven patients were diagnosed with atrial fibrillation admitted in the internal medical department and coronary care unit in Al- Ramadi Teaching Hospital in the period from 1st of May to 1st of August 2019. All participants answered questionnaires for history of medical illness (hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), cardiovascular disease, chronic chest infection, hyperthyroidism, smoking and alcohol intake and full physical examinations that included particularly blood pressure measurement and cardiovascular examination. Investigations including ECG, echocardiography and fasting glucose and HbA1c.  Patients are arranged in four age groups. The presences of known risk factors were recorded. Correlation was examined between the number of patients suffering from AF in each age group in men and women and risk factors. A p value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS- In a total of one hundred eleven patients with atrial fibrillation 60 patients (54%) were men & 51 (46%) were women. Their mean age was 60.3 years with SD± 14.1. The study revealed that the numbers of AF patients were steeply increased in parallel with advancing age, and that the numbers of men were more than women. There was a positive correlation between prevalence of AF patients and numbers of AF risk factors. Advancing age, hypertension, heart failure and ischemic heart disease were the most common risk factors affecting the prevalence of AF.

CONCLUSIONS- Advancing age and non-valvular heart diseases are the most common risk factors. The prevalence of atrial fibrillation is more common among men than women.