Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCross-sectional study
Asymptomatic atrial fibrillation among hospitalized patients: clinical correlates and in-hospital outcomes in Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Atrial Fibrillation
- Cross-sectional study
- registry
Authors' conclusion
Asymptomatic AF is common among hospitalized patients with AF. Asymptomatic clinical status is associated with male sex, comorbidities, and a higher risk of in-hospital outcomes.
Study context
- Population
- Inpatients with Atrial Fibrillation (AF) in the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Atrial Fibrillation Project, February 2015 to December 2019
- Exposure
- Asymptomatic vs symptomatic AF
- Outcome
- Clinical correlates and in-hospital outcomes of asymptomatic AF
- Follow-up
- In-hospital
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Clinical characteristics of asymptomatic patients
| Group | Male | Hypertension | DM | Peripheral artery disease (PAD) | CAD | Prior stroke/TIA | Myocardial infarction (MI) | HF | LVEF ≤40% | First diagnosed AF | Long-standing persistent/permanent AF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asymptomatic | 56.3% | 57.4% | 18.6% | 2.3% | 55.5% | 17.9% | 5.4% | 9.6% | 7.3% | 23.9% | 17.0% |
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
In-hospital all-cause death, ischaemic stroke/TIA, acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
- Higher incidence in asymptomatic than symptomatic patients
Original publication
Asymptomatic atrial fibrillation among hospitalized patients: clinical correlates and in-hospital outcomes in Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Atrial Fibrillation. Europace. Published 15 September 2023. doi:10.1093/europace/euad272
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it