CARDIOMETABOLIC RISK FACTORS FOR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION IN TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

Abstract

Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been little explored so far. However, there are several cardiometabolic risk factors for AF in T2DM patients, such as arterial hypertension, obesity or metabolic syndrome. Our objective was to evaluate cardiometabolic risk factors for AF in T2DM patients. Design and method: We studied the medical records of T2DM patients hospitalized in the Internal Medicine department of an emergency referral hospital in Bucharest, Romania. The study was observational, retrospective and was carried out between January and June 2017. Results: The study group included 221 T2DM patients (mean age 68.65 ± 10.64, range 37–93 years): 116 women (52.49%; mean age 70.53 ± 10.69, range 37–93 years) and 105 men (47.51%; mean age 66.57 ± 10.23, range 38–91 years). 92 patients had AF (41.63%): 40 women (34.48%) and 52 men (49.52%). 180 patients (81.45%) were hypertensive: 103 women (88.79%) and 77 men (73.33%). 113 patients (51.13%) had metabolic syndrome: 58 women (50.00%) and 55 men (52.38%). 77 patients (34.84%) were obese: 45 women (38.79%) and 32 men (30.48%). AF patients associated obesity in 26 cases (28.26%), hypertension in 73 cases (79.35%) and metabolic syndrome in 56 cases (60.87%).Conclusions: The most common cardiometabolic risk factor for AF in T2DM patients was hypertension (79.35%), followed by metabolic syndrome (60.87%) and obesity (28.26%). In T2DM patients, AF was more frequent in men (49.52%) vs. women (34.48%). Regarding cardiometabolic risk factors for AF in T2DM patients, women were more likely to be hypertensive (88.79%) or obese (38.79%) vs. men (73.33% and 30.48%, respectively). Men were more likely affected by metabolic syndrome (52.38%) rather than women (50.00%) in T2DM patients with AF.