title: Identification of clinical risk factors of atrial fibrillation in congestive heart failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Factors associated with the development of atrial fibrillation (AF) in general population have been described, but it is still unknown whether the same risk factors apply to heart failure (HF) patients. The aim of this study was to identify clinical factors related to various forms of AF in HF patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical and echocardiographic characteristics were assessed in 155 HF patients: 50 with sinus rhythm, 52 with non-permanent AF, and 53 with permanent AF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the increase in the NYHA class was an independent risk factor for both forms of AF. The occurrence of permanent AF in comparison to sinus rhythm group was independently associated with hs-C-reactive protein (CRP) elevation above 1 mg/dL (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.05-3.35), left atrial dimension above 4 cm (OR 3.78, 95% CI 1.29-11.06) and tricuspid maximal pressure gradient elevation above 35 mm Hg (OR 5.01, 95% CI 1.38-18.27). The presence of coronary disease was independently associated with less frequent occurrence of permanent AF in comparison to sinus rhythm group (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.06-0.67).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More advanced congestive HF was associated with presence of both types of AF. Non-ischemic etiology of HF and elevated CRP are independently associated with permanent AF compared to sinus rhythm. Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction indicators (increased tricuspid maximal pressure gradient and left artial dimension) are independently associated with permanent AF.
authors.affiliation: University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Faculty of Medicine, Olsztyn, Poland. rtarg@op.pl.
authors.forename: Ryszard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Targoński
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sadowski
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Romaszko
authors.forename: Leszek
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cichowski
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein