title: [Prevalence of atrial fibrillation and predictors of its occurrence in patients with dual-chamber pacemakers].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with dual-chamber pacemakers (DP), determine the variables associated with development of AF and evaluate the changes in AF's management by physicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five hundred patients with DP were prospectively included and interrogated. When AF was detected physicians in charge of the patient were warned. Changes in AF's management were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age of the study population was 77 years, with 51% of men. AF was detected in 13.2% of patients. These findings led treatment changes in 64.7%. The variables analyzed by logistic regression model which were associated with the occurrence of AF were: arterial hypertension (OR=2.62; CI 95% 1.01-6.8; P<.048), history of AF (OR=4.30; CI 95% 2.26-8.32; P<.001), sick sinus syndrome as cause of device implantation (OR=2.09; CI 95% 1.09-3.97; P<.025) and burden of supraventricular extrasystoles series(OR= 1.000033 per serie; CI 95% 0.000011-0.000055; P<.003.).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have detected a high prevalence of AF in patients with DP. The diagnose of AF led to change in treatment. Four clinical variables increase the likelihood of developing this arrhythmia.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: german.fernandez@hospitalitaliano.org.ar.
authors.forename: Germán
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Gustavo Fabián
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Maid
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Aníbal Martín
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Arias
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Sebastián
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maldonado
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pizarro
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Cesar Antonio
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Belziti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants
keywords: Argentina; Atrial fibrillation; Dual-chamber pacemakers; Extrasístoles supraventriculares; Fibrilación auricular; Marcapasos bicamerales; Supraventricular extrasystoles