A Study of Underlying Cardiac and Non-Cardiac Risk Factors in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (A Fib) is associated with high incidence of morbidity and mortality. Numerous cardiac and non-cardiac risk factors for A Fib have been identified. We evaluated different patients of A Fib to find out both cardiac and non-cardiac risk factors for its occurrence. We studied 100 (44 males, 56 females) patients of A Fib and divided them into cardiac and non-cardiac groups. Eighty six (86%) patients (49 females, 37 males) were in cardiac group, out of which 49 (57%) had valvular heart disease (32 females, 17 males), 17 (20%) coronary heart disease (CAD) and 13 (15%) hypertension. Out of 14 (14%) patients of non-cardiac group 7 (50%) had lone A Fib and 7 (50%) had thyrotoxicosis, severe infection and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A Fib is the commonest chronic or recurrent arrhythmia whose incidence raised with age. Gender also affected it as female dominance was seen, consistent with other studies. Rheumatic heart disease was observed the main risk factor as compared to Western World where CAD and hypertension dominate. Lone A Fib was seen incomparable number with international data. Early recognition and treatment of these risk factors may help to reduce the occurrence of atrial fibrillation and its associated sequalae.