The clinical course of atrial fibrillation in patients with coronary heart disease

Abstract

To elucidate evolution of the clinical course of AF in patients with CHD in a long-term prospective study. The study included. 112 patient aged 57-74 (mean 67.44±3.3) years with CHD and paroxysmal form of AF carried outfrom 2011 to 2015. Evolution of the clinical course of AF was evaluated based on the number of arrhythmic attacks during the last 3 months. The appearance of prolonged persistent AF episodes or permanent AF was regarded as progression of arrhythmia. During the 4 year study, 64 (57,2%) patients (group 1) did not experiencea rise in the frequency and duration of AF attacks. Progression of arrhythmia was documented in 48 (42,8%) of the 112 (100%) patients (group 2). These patients more frequently had the history of myocardial infarction and chronic heart failure than patients of group 1. The latter had the mean values of left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction 61,23±6,24%, i.e. significantly higher than 48,47±8,4% in group 2.47 and 28 % of the patients in group 2and 1 respectively suffered mitral regurgitation (p<0,05). Patients of group 2 had significantly more akineticzones. Intake of nitroglycerin in group 1 resulted in positive dynamics of local LV contractility that did not change in patients of group 2. 42,8% of the patients with CHD and paroxysmal form of AF experienced progression of arrhythmia into a persistent or permanent form. Predictors of AF progression in patients with CHD are the history of myocardial infarction, chronic heart failure, mitral regurgitation, and irreversible changes in local myocardial LV contraction.