Effect of obesity on atrial size in older women with non-valvular paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) typically prevails on male sex in all decades of life. Thus, prevalence rate of AF in older women is elevated, mainly due to their longer survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect that obesity has on atria dimensions of older women with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). The study population consisted of older women who were admitted to our cardiology department due to an episode of PAF and cardioverted to sinus rhythm within 48 hours. A total of 48 patients were included and divided in two groups according the presence (30) or the absence (18) of obesity, considering obesity as a body mass index (BMI) greater or equal to 30 kg /cm2. Obese women had a mean atrial size of 45.1+/-3.9 mm and non-obese women had a mean atrial size of 39.8+/-2.6 mm, p<0.001. BMI was positively correlated with atrial enlargement in a statistically significant way even after multiple adjustments. Among the elderly female population with an episode of PAF, obese women seem to have greater risk for the perpetuation and the stabilization of this arrhythmia due to the enlargement of their atrial size.