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Published on: February 26, 2013
Long-Term Clinical Implications of Atrial Fibrillation on Mortality in Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19: A
Kyoung Ree Lim1, Seunghwa Lee2, Bum Sung Kim3
1Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul 05278, Republic of Korea.
Insights
Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) hospitalized for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) face a higher risk of long-term mortality. This highlights the need for tailored management strategies for these individuals.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a known risk factor for mortality.
- Limited evidence exists on the impact of AF on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and long-term mortality in patients hospitalized with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study using data from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (2020-2022).
- Included 107,247 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, divided into groups with and without a history of AF.
- Propensity score stratification was used to control for confounding factors.
Main Results:
- Patients with a history of AF (n=1919) had a significantly higher risk of long-term all-cause mortality compared to those without AF (n=105,328) (5.2% vs 1.3%; HR 1.49, 95% CI 1.20-1.82; p < 0.01).
- A history of AF was also linked to an increased risk of mortality within 30 days of hospitalization.
Conclusions:
- Atrial fibrillation is associated with increased long-term mortality risk in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
- Physicians should reconsider optimal management strategies for COVID-19 patients with AF post-discharge.
Background:
Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of long-term mortality in patients hospitalized with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), but the evidence is limited.
Methods:
This study used data from the Common Data Model of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service of Korea collected between 1 January 2020 and 30 April 2022. A total of 107,247 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were included in this study. They were divided into two groups according to a history of AF. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality.
Results:
After propensity score stratification, 1919 patients with a history of AF and 105,328 patients without a history of AF who were hospitalized with COVID-19 were analyzed to determine long-term mortality. The primary outcome occurred in 99 of 1919 patients (5.2%) with a history of AF and in 1397 of 105,328 patients (1.3%) without a history of AF (hazard ratio, 1.49; 95% confidence interval 1.20-1.82; p < 0.01). A history of AF was also associated with an increased risk of within 30-day mortality.
Conclusion:
A history of AF was associated with an increased risk of long-term mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Our findings indicate the necessity for physicians to reevaluate the optimal management of patients with AF following discharge.
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