Risk factors, atrial fibrillation and thromboembolic events.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF) and thromboembolic complications.


METHODS
We studied 480 patients (mean age: 71.2+/-11.6 years): 240 with paroxysmal AF, 240 with permanent AF. The association between AF and the presence of risk factors, cardiac and systemic disease was observed and the correlation with the occurrence of complications analyzed.


RESULTS
Patients with AF had a high prevalence of the following conditions: hypertension, hypertensive heart disease (HHD), coronary artery disease, hyperthyroidism. Thromboembolism was observed in 26.6% of the patients. A correlation between the occurrence of a thromboembolic complication and the presence of one of the following risk factors for thromboembolism was observed: older age, diabetes mellitus, HHD and hyperfibrinogenemia. No correlation was detected between: female sex, arterial hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, and obesity. Exitus was observed in 7 patients with permanent AF.


CONCLUSIONS
Older age, diabetes mellitus, HHD and hyperfibrinogenemia were strongly associated with the occurrence of thromboembolic complications. Patients with effectively pharmacologically controlled hypertension had not more frequently thromboembolic complications. A strict blood pressure control may prevent thromboembolic complications of AF.
Novo
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Unit of Cardiovascular Diseases and Division of Cardiology, P. Giaccone Polyclinic, Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular and Nephro-Urological Diseases, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. pepenovo@hotmail.com
Mansueto
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P
La Franca
M L
ML
Di Leo
R
R
Di Rosa
S
S
Fazio
G
G
Mansueto
S
S
Ferrara
F
F
Novo
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D005340:Fibrinogen