[Atrial fibrillation in mitral valve disease--risk factors]

Atrial fibrillation is frequently found in association with rheumatic mitral valve disease. However, the risk factors of atrial fibrillation have not been well established. The aim of this study was to assess risk factors of atrial fibrillation in patients with mitral valve disease.

The study group consisted of 141 patients (pts) with isolated mitral valve disease. Pts were divided into 3 groups (45 pts--mitral stenosis, 29 pts--mitral regurgitation, 67 pts--combined mitral valve disease). Mean age--52.5 years. Atrial fibrillation before operation was in 102 pts (72.3%). The clinical history of each patient was taken to obtain the patient's age, likely etiology of the valve lesion time of onset of atrial fibrillation. Echocardiografic and electrocardiografic records were performed in each patient.

In all three groups of patients age and left atrial size were the most important factors of atrial fibrillation (atrial fibrillation was rare when left atrial dimension was below 40 mm).

Atrial fibrillation was strongly associated with mitral stenosis and combined mitral disease. The most important factors of atrial fibrillation was age, left atrial dimension and hemodynamic class.