Elevated Resting Heart Rate in Hospitalized Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Is Associated With Increased...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Clinical Research
• Atrial Fibrillation Management

Background:

• Effective rate control is crucial for managing atrial fibrillation (AF).
• The association between resting heart rate (RHR) and adverse outcomes in hospitalized AF patients requires further clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between RHR and in-hospital adverse outcomes in patients hospitalized with AF.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of data from the "Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-AF" project (2014-2019).
• Inclusion of 12,775 hospitalized AF patients from 236 centers.
• Logistic regression models were employed to assess the association between RHR and primary (all-cause mortality, acute heart failure) and secondary (stroke/TIA, bleeding) outcomes.

Main Results:

• A significant association was found between RHR exceeding 80 bpm and an increased risk of the primary composite outcome (adjusted OR: 1.79 [95% CI: 1.44-2.22]).
• Higher RHR (≥ 80 bpm) correlated positively with adverse outcomes.
• Advanced AF types increased risk across RHR ranges, while catheter ablation, unlike antiarrhythmic drugs, was associated with reduced risk.

Conclusions:

• Elevated RHR (over 80 bpm) is significantly associated with adverse in-hospital outcomes in AF patients.
• Catheter ablation may be a beneficial strategy for mitigating risks in this population.