Masahiro Esato1, Yeong-Hwa Chun1, Yoshimori An2, Hisashi Ogawa2, Hiromichi Wada3, Koji Hasegawa3, Hikari Tsuji4, Mitsuru Abe2, Gregory Y H Lip5, Masaharu Akao6. 1. Department of Arrhythmia, Ijinkai Takeda General Hospital, Japan. 2. Department of Cardiology, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan. 3. Division of Translational Research, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan. 4. Tsuji Clinic, Japan. 5. Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK, and Aalborg Thrombosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark. 6. Department of Cardiology, National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: akao@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The clinical characteristics and outcomes of asymptomatic patients with paroxysmal or persistent/permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) are largely unknown. METHODS: The Fushimi AF Registry is a community-based prospective survey of patients with AF who visited the participating medical institutions in Fushimi-ku, Japan. We investigated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of asymptomatic vs symptomatic patients in the paroxysmal AF (PAF; n = 1,837) and persistent/permanent (sustained atrial fibrillation [SAF]; n = 1,912) subgroups. RESULTS: In the PAF group, asymptomatic patients were older (asymptomatic vs symptomatic group, 74.1 vs 71.1 years of age; P < .01), more often male (62.1% vs 55.6%; P < .01), and had a higher CHA2DS2-VASc (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥ 75 years, diabetes mellitus, history of stroke, vascular disease, age 65-74 years, and female sex) score (mean, 3.37 ± 1.73 vs 2.99 ± 1.63; P < .01), whereas the prevalence of major co-morbidities and CHA2DS2-VASc scores were comparable in the SAF group. Multivariable analysis indicated that age (≥ 75 years), history of stroke/systemic embolism, male sex, and chronic kidney disease were independent determinants of asymptomatic status in the PAF group, whereas age was nonsignificant in the SAF group. During the follow-up period, all-cause mortality was significantly higher (hazard ratio, 1.71 [95% CI, 1.31-2.29]; P < .01) in asymptomatic patients compared with symptomatic patients in the PAF group, whereas it was comparable in the SAF group. CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic clinical status is associated with older age, male sex, more co-morbidities with a higher stroke risk profile, and a higher incidence of all-cause death in patients with PAF; these characteristics and outcomes were not seen in the SAF group. TRIAL REGISTRY: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry; No.: UMIN000005834; URL: www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm.
BACKGROUND: The clinical characteristics and outcomes of asymptomatic patients with paroxysmal or persistent/permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) are largely unknown. METHODS: The Fushimi AF Registry is a community-based prospective survey of patients with AF who visited the participating medical institutions in Fushimi-ku, Japan. We investigated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of asymptomatic vs symptomatic patients in the paroxysmal AF (PAF; n = 1,837) and persistent/permanent (sustained atrial fibrillation [SAF]; n = 1,912) subgroups. RESULTS: In the PAF group, asymptomatic patients were older (asymptomatic vs symptomatic group, 74.1 vs 71.1 years of age; P < .01), more often male (62.1% vs 55.6%; P < .01), and had a higher CHA2DS2-VASc (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥ 75 years, diabetes mellitus, history of stroke, vascular disease, age 65-74 years, and female sex) score (mean, 3.37 ± 1.73 vs 2.99 ± 1.63; P < .01), whereas the prevalence of major co-morbidities and CHA2DS2-VASc scores were comparable in the SAF group. Multivariable analysis indicated that age (≥ 75 years), history of stroke/systemic embolism, male sex, and chronic kidney disease were independent determinants of asymptomatic status in the PAF group, whereas age was nonsignificant in the SAF group. During the follow-up period, all-cause mortality was significantly higher (hazard ratio, 1.71 [95% CI, 1.31-2.29]; P < .01) in asymptomatic patients compared with symptomatic patients in the PAF group, whereas it was comparable in the SAF group. CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic clinical status is associated with older age, male sex, more co-morbidities with a higher stroke risk profile, and a higher incidence of all-cause death in patients with PAF; these characteristics and outcomes were not seen in the SAF group. TRIAL REGISTRY: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry; No.: UMIN000005834; URL: www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm.