The features of atrial fibrillation occurrence in patients who have undergone COVID-19

Abstract

Funding AcknowledgementsType of funding sources: None.COVID-19 pandemic has a rather negative effect on patients with cardiovascular pathology, also in patients without cardiovascular disease because its pathogenesis is based on generalized vascuities of the microvasculature with the development of multiple thrombosis and thromboembolism. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the major cardiac arrhythmias and accounts for almost one third of all arrhythmias. Changes in electrical, structural, and contractile properties of cardiac tissue that are thought to underlie AF maintenance and progression are reviewed. The aim of this study is to identify the features and predictors that contribute to the onset or development of AF in patients who have had COVID -19.MethodsThis was a three-center prospective study, conducted in the coronary care unit during the period of February 2020 to June 2021. This study included 196 patients with AF who underwent COVID-19 at different times of this period (I group). For comparison, the data of similar 203 AF patients without COVID (II group) were analyzed in the period from February 2018 to February 2019 from the same centers... Medical history, clinical, instrumental and laboratory data, including troponin-1, tissue factor (TF), and hsCRP were studied in all patients. The data obtained was analyzed for statistical significance including multivariable logistic regression using analyses by SPSS 16.ResultsThe compared results showed that the first-onset AF in patients from first group was observed in 18.7% compared with 8.1% in second group. In intensive care units, AF were registered in 44.2% of patients in I group vs. 7.1% of patients in II group. In first group among patients with ACS, AF occurred in 12.7% of cases vs. similar patients in II group- 8.4%. In first group hypokalemia was observed in 67.8% of cases vs. 28.6% in II group... Multivariable logistic regression was shown that among tested biomarkers, hsCRP, troponin‐I and TF were more higher in patients undergoing COVID in compared patients with AF without COVID (odds ratio, 3.48; p<0.001, 2.36 p<0.017 and 2.48 p<0.01 accordingly).ConclusionsSome features of the onset or development of AF were identified in patients undergoing COVID. So, In these patients compared with AF patients without COVID, AF more often occurs in clinically severe patients, with ACS, as well as in patients with severe hypokalemia, higher hsCRP, TF and troponin values.