Embolic events in 93 elderly Chinese patients with atrial fibrillation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence of embolic events and relevant factors in elderly Chinese patients with atrial fibrillation(AF), and to provide evidence on ways to prevent embolic events.


METHODS
Autopsy data from ninety-three continous elderly Chinese patients with AF were analysed. The incidence of embolic events and its relationship to underlying disease, pathologic changes in the heart, and other clinical characteristics were examined.


RESULTS
Embolism were observed in 27 of 93 cases, with an incidence of 29.03%. The incidence of embolic events was higher in elderly patients with rheumatic heart disease than those with coronary artery disease, hypertensive myocardiopathy and heart diseases. Patients with chronic AF, with a course of AF > or = 3 years, and those with heart failure or diabetes had a higher incidence of embolic events than those without these complications. There was significant difference in incidence between paroxysmal and chronic AF. Patients with left atrial or ventricular enlargement, mural thrombosis in cardiac chambers, valvular calcification and valvular vegetation also had a higher incidence of embolic events. Oral dipyridamole (75-150 mg/d) or aspirin (50-150 mg/d) showed no definite effects in preventing embolism in some patients.


CONCLUSIONS
There was a high incidence of embolic events in elderly Chinese patients with AF. Anticoagulation therapy should be provided to the elderly patients with AF, especially to the patients with risk factors for embolism.
Cao
X
X
Department of Cardiology, 252th Hospital of PLA, Baoding 071000, China.
Wang
S
S
Jiang
L
L
Liu
L
L
Huang
H
H
Lu
Z
Z
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications*; D004617:Embolism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000925:Anticoagulants