PECULIARITIES OF THE COURSE OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION IN PATIENTS WITH ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION AFTER A CORONAVIRUS INFECTION

Abstract

Objective: Arterial hypertension is one of the most common comorbid pathologies in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of our study was to evaluate blood pressure indicators as a predictor of the development of AF after experiencing a coronavirus infection (CI). Design and method: 187 patients (pts) aged 62,5±0,9 years (47% men, 53% women) were included in the study. The vast majority of pts (89%) had arterial hypertension (stage2 – 80%, stage3 – 9%). The first three groups formed 116 pts who had AF and underwent CI. The first group (G1) consisted of 36 pts who did not have AF before CI. The second group (G2) was represented by 25 pts in whom the transition of the paroxysmal form of AF into persistent, or persistent AF into its permanent form occurred. The third group (G3) consisted of 55 pts in whom the form of AF did not change. Two control groups were formed: K1 - 49 pts with AF who did not have a history of CI, and K2 - 22 pts with extrasystole who experienced CI, but who did not develop AF. Results: Arterial hypertension affected the possibility of developing and worsening the course of AF after CI in G2 pts compared with K1 pts (88,0% vs. 80,0%, p< 0,05), G1 compared with K2 patients. Concomitant hypertension was associated with an increase in the frequency and duration of AF paroxysms after COVID-19. Thus, G2, compared to G3, was characterized by more frequent detection of both 2nd degree hypertension (72% versus 65,5%; p<0,05) and 3rd degree hypertension (12% versus 3,6%, p<0.05). Conclusions: Arterial hypertension are predictors of the development of AF in patients after CI. The presence of AH significantly worsens the course of AF after CI, increasing the frequency of paroxysms of this arrhythmia and their duration.