THE FEATURE OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION OCCURRENCE AND PROGRESSION IN PATIENTS WITH ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION, WHO HAVE UNDERGONE COVID-19

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Objective: COVID-19 pandemic has a rather negative effect on patients with cardiovascular pathology. AH is one of the main reasons for the remodeling process in AF patients and makes a significant contribution to the development of heart structural changes. The aim of this study is to identify the feature of AF occurrence and progression in patients with AH, who have undergone COVID-19. Design and method: In this study where enrolled 91 patients with AH and non-valvular paroxysmal/persistent AF, who have undergone COVID-19 (first group). As a control group 109 patients with AH and AF, but without have undergone COVID-19 were also examined (second group). The database consisting of indices that characterize the clinical, hemodynamic and structural-functional state of the heart, were analyzed by SPSS 13. Results: The obtained results showed that in the first group patients were significantly older than in the second group (mean age 71.6 ± 7.4 vs. 61.6 ± 6.4 years, p < 0.001). Resting heart rate was significantly higher in patients from first group in comparison with second group (86.6 ± 6.2 vs. 76.9 ± 7.8 beat/min, p < 0.01). In first group body mass index of patients was significantly more than in second group (33.9 ± 1.5 vs. 31.6 ± 1.8 kg/m2, p < 0.05). In the first group the prevalence of patients with uncontrolled AH were statistically significantly higher, than in the second group (54% vs. 23%, p < 0.001). In those patients the doses of antihypertensive medications taken were either increased or the antihypertensive treatment were revised. Moreover, in the first group the frequency of hypertensive crises was nearly twofold higher (31% vs. 17%, p < 0.001). It was revealed that the left atrium diameter in patients of the first group was significantly greater than in the second (44.3 ± 1.4 vs.41.2 ± 1.1 mm, p < 0.05); but systolic and diastolic dysfunction did not significantly differ in both groups. Conclusions: The obtained results indicate that in patients with AH who have undergone COVID-19, the onset of AF has some features, namely; uncontrolled AH, frequent hypertensive crises, tachycardia, overweight and older age. As well as left atrium more large dilation compared with second group that did not undergo a viral infection.