Clinical and cardiac structural predictors of atrial fibrillation persistence

Aditya Bhat1,2, Henry H L Chen1, Shaun Khanna1

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Blacktown Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Insights

Persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is linked to worse outcomes. Heart failure, larger right atrial size, and reduced left atrial function independently predict persistent AF, suggesting targets for intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Cardiac Electrophysiology
  • Echocardiography

Background:

  • Persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality compared to paroxysmal AF.
  • Identifying predictors of AF persistence is crucial for risk stratification and management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine clinical and structural cardiac parameters associated with persistent/permanent AF.
  • To investigate factors differentiating persistent AF from paroxysmal AF.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 665 patients with non-valvular AF undergoing transthoracic echocardiography.
  • Comparison of clinical and echocardiographic parameters between paroxysmal AF and persistent/permanent AF subtypes.

Main Results:

  • Heart failure (OR 3.135), right atrial area ≥18 cm² (OR 2.147), and left atrial emptying fraction ≤34% (OR 2.959) were independent predictors of persistent/permanent AF.
  • 70% of patients had paroxysmal AF, while 30% had persistent/permanent AF.

Conclusions:

  • Heart failure, enlarged right atrial size, and impaired left atrial function are associated with persistent/permanent AF.
  • These markers may help identify patients who could benefit from early interventions to prevent adverse cardiovascular events.
Abstract

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