A STUDY ON CLINICO-ETIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AT SVRRGH, TIRUPATI

Abstract

Background: Atrial brillation is one of the most commonly encountered cardiac arrhythmias. It is characterized by irregularly irregular cardiac rhythm altering the electrical and mechanical function of the atria. The incidence and prevalence of atrial brillation is increasing in older patients greater than 60 years of age. A large number of the patients with atrial brillation are underdiagnosed. Some of them are asymptomatic but in due course of time they develop a number of complications like cardiomyopathy, heart failure and cardio embolic stroke. This study is undertaken to nd out the presenting symptoms and etiology of atrial brillation in Indian setting which facilitates an early diagnosis and initiation of appropriate treatment strategies.Methods: Ahospital based cross sectional study was carried out on 100 patients who presented to SVRRGH, Tirupati between October 2021 to September 2022. Patients > 18 years with clinically and electrocardiographically proven atrial brillation who were haemodynamically stable were taken into the study. Results: In my study, breathlessness was present in majority-74% of patients followed by palpitations-57%, pedal edema-32%, chest pain-29%, giddiness-7%, weakness of limbs-6%, others-4%. Regarding etiology, past history of Rheumatic heart disease was present in 56% of patients, CAD in 24% of patients. Past history of Hypertension was present in 27% of patients, Diabetes Mellitus in 21% of patients, COPD in 11% of patients and 10% of patients had other diseases like hyperthyroididm, dilated cardiomyopathy, atrial septal defect. Conclusion: Rheumatic heart disease was the most common etiology for atrial brillation in our study. Hypertension was the second most common cause. Breathlessness was the most common complaint followed by palpitations. Males were more affected than female. Atrial brillation should therefore be suspected clinically, diagnosed earliest and treated appropriately to reduce further compications.