A study recently published in IJC Heart & Vasculature found that patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) who are older and have increased left atrium size are at higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib).
AFib, defined as a rapid, irregular heartbeat, is relatively common in patients with ATTR-CM. When left untreated, AFib can lead to cardiovascular complications including stroke and heart failure.
“Few studies have aimed to identify the main predictors related with the development of [AFib] in this population, focusing on early diagnosis and intervention,” the study’s authors wrote.
The authors identified 273 patients with ATTR-CM from the REACT-SP registry, which collected data on patients with several types of ATTR across 10 centers in São Paulo, Brazil. The majority of patients (73.2%) were male. Additionally, 59 individuals (25.2%) had AFib.
Read more about ATTR-CM causes and risk factors
The study found that patients experiencing AFib had a median age of 76 years, while patients without AFib had a median age of 73 years. Additionally, patients with AFib had a median left atrium diameter of 48 mm, while those without AFib had a median left atrium diameter of 43 mm.
The authors developed a statistical model that incorporated several variables including age, sex and a variety of cardiovascular parameters. They found that for every 5-mm increase in left atrium diameter, the odds of AFib increased by 63%. Additionally, for every 10-year increase in age, the odds of AFib increased by 71%.
The association between these variables and AFib held when analyzing the male patients alone. However, when analyzing female participants alone, no significant associations were found.
“This study underscores the imperative to establish early diagnosis of this prevalent condition and to conduct prospective studies aimed at its treatment and prevention of subsequent thromboembolic events,” the authors concluded.
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