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Atrial fibrillation in incident dialysis patients

Eduardo Vazquez1, Carmen Sanchez-Perales, Francisco Garcia-Garcia

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Complejo Hospitalario de Jaen, Jaen, Spain. vazquez89@arrakis.es

Kidney International
|June 5, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Atrial fibrillation is common in patients starting dialysis. This condition significantly increases the risk of stroke and mortality in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Cardiology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease is a major concern for patients undergoing dialysis.
  • The prevalence and impact of atrial fibrillation in incident dialysis patients remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the frequency of atrial fibrillation in patients initiating dialysis.
  • To investigate the predictors and clinical outcomes associated with atrial fibrillation in this cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 256 incident dialysis patients over a 4-year period.
  • Assessment of atrial fibrillation prevalence at dialysis inception and during follow-up.
  • Identification of risk factors and impact on ischemic stroke and mortality.

Main Results:

  • 31% of patients had atrial fibrillation at dialysis start; 28 developed it during follow-up.
  • Independent predictors of atrial fibrillation included older age, larger left atrium, and female gender.
  • Atrial fibrillation was associated with a 1.72-fold increase in mortality and a 9.8-fold increase in ischemic stroke risk.

Conclusions:

  • Atrial fibrillation is highly prevalent in patients starting dialysis.
  • The presence of atrial fibrillation significantly elevates the risk of adverse cardiovascular events, including stroke and death.

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