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Updated: May 23, 2026

Sterile Pericarditis in Aachener Minipigs As a Model for Atrial Myopathy and Atrial Fibrillation
08:56

Sterile Pericarditis in Aachener Minipigs As a Model for Atrial Myopathy and Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: September 24, 2021

Persistent atrial fibrillation is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with atrioventricular block and

Dubravko Petrač1, Vjekoslav Radeljić, Diana Delić-Brkljačić

  • 1Bogdan Cardiology Polyclinic, Zagreb, Croatia. d.petrac@inet-hr

Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology : PACE
|March 29, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with AV block and DDD pacemakers increases cardiovascular death risk, particularly from heart failure. This finding highlights the importance of monitoring for AF in this patient population.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Electrophysiology
  • Medical Device Research

Background:

  • Prognostic impact of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with atrioventricular (AV) block and dual chamber (DDD) pacemakers is understudied.
  • Investigating the influence of persistent AF on clinical outcomes in this specific patient group.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if persistent AF development impacts clinical outcomes in patients with AV block and DDD pacemakers.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 308 patients with AV block and DDD pacemakers followed for 36 months.
  • Comparison of clinical outcomes between 34 patients with persistent AF and 278 patients without persistent AF.
  • Primary outcome assessed was cardiovascular death.

Main Results:

  • Higher incidence of cardiovascular death in the persistent AF group (6.8% per year) versus the control group (2.9% per year; P=0.028).
  • Increased heart failure-related deaths (P=0.009) and hospitalizations for heart failure (P=0.008) in the persistent AF group.
  • No significant difference in nonfatal stroke risk between groups (P=0.628).

Conclusions:

  • Development of persistent AF in patients with AV block and DDD pacemakers is linked to elevated cardiovascular death risk.
  • Persistent AF is associated with an increased risk of heart failure and related mortality in this population.
Abstract

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