title: Atrial fibrillation in a large population with Brugada electrocardiographic pattern: prevalence, management, and correlation with prognosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A high prevalence of atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter (AF/AFl) has been reported in small series of Brugada patients, with discordant data.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to analyze, in a large population of Brugada patients, the prevalence of AF/AFl, its correlation with prognosis, and the efficacy of hydroquinidine (HQ) treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among 560 patients with Brugada type 1 ECG (BrECG), 48 (9%) had AF/AFl. Three groups were considered: 23 patients with BrECG pattern recognized before AF/AFl (group 1); 25 patients first diagnosed with AF/AFl in whom Class IC antiarrhythmic drugs administered for cardioversion/prophylaxis unmasked BrECG (group 2); and 512 patients without AF/AFl (group 3). Recurrence of AF/AFl and occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias were evaluated at follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age was 47 ± 15 years, 59 ± 11 years, and 44 ± 14 years in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Seven subjects (32%) in group 1 had syncope/aborted sudden death, 1 (4%) in group 2, and 122 (24%) in group 3. Ventricular arrhythmia occurred in three patients in group 1, none in group 2, and 10 in group 3 at median follow-up of 51, 68, and 41 months, respectively. Nine patients in group 1 and nine in group 2 received HQ for AF/AFl prophylaxis; on therapy, none had AF/AFl recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of AF/AFl in Brugada patients is higher than in the general population of the same age. Patients in group 1 are younger than those in group 2 and have a worse prognosis compared to both groups 2 and 3. HQ therapy has proved useful and safe in patients with AF/AFl and BrECG.
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Giustetto
authors: Natascia
authors: N
authors: Cerrato
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Gribaudo
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Scrocco
authors: Davide
authors: D
authors: Castagno
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Richiardi
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Giachino
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Bianchi
authors: Lorella
authors: L
authors: Barbonaglia
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Ferraro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control; D053840:Brugada Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011802:Quinidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; C014486:hydroquinidine; D011802:Quinidine