Incidence and Severity of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing First-Time Coronary Angiography
2011

Coronary Artery Disease in Atrial Fibrillation Patients Undergoing Angiography

Sample size: 261 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Kralev Stefan, Schneider Kathrin, Lang Siegfried, Süselbeck Tim, Borggrefe Martin

Primary Institution: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany

Hypothesis

What is the incidence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing first-time coronary angiography?

Conclusion

The study found a high incidence of CAD at 34% among patients with AF, with 21% undergoing PCI or CABG.

Supporting Evidence

  • The overall incidence of CAD in patients presenting with AF was 34%.
  • In patients over 70 years, the incidence of CAD was 41%.
  • Patients with CAD were older and had more frequent hypercholesterolemia and smoking history.

Takeaway

This study looked at patients with a heart condition called atrial fibrillation and found that many of them also had a serious heart problem called coronary artery disease.

Methodology

The study included 261 patients with AF who underwent coronary angiography from January 2005 to December 2009, excluding those with previously diagnosed CAD.

Potential Biases

Potential biases due to the single-center design and non-randomized nature of the study.

Limitations

The study's non-randomized design and focus on hospitalized patients may limit the generalizability of the findings.

Participant Demographics

Patients included were admitted with paroxysmal, persistent, or permanent AF, with a mean age of 73 years for those with CAD.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.001

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0024964

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