Retrospective Investigation Of 1540 Hospitalized Patients With Atrial Fibrillation In Xinjiang

Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia associated with increased cardiovascular morbididy and mortality. This study was undertaken to analyze the epidemiological factors and evaluate the current status of treatment in patients with AF in Xinjiang. Methods: Retrospective analysis of hospital records were taken from patients with primary diagnosis of AF, discharged from Jan 1 2001 to June 31 2006. Results: 1) A total of 1 540 cases with AF were enrolled. Mean age was 61.0 years old. The cases distribution progressively rose with age. Among them, 1175 cases have ECG documents, 365 cases have DCG documents. Han and minors race have many differents in AF type, causes, age, stroke and left atrium thrombus. 2) The causes and associated conditions of AF: advanced age 44.9%, rheumatic valvular disease 30.5%, hypertension 28.6%, coronary heart disease 23.9%, idiopathic AF 14.0%, cardiomyopathy 5.8%, diabetes 2.8%. The most common coexistence among these variables was advanced age with rheumatic valvular disease; In this group, 2/3 patients have left atrium enlargement, 1/4 patients have left ventricular EF decreased, 91 patients have left atrium thrombus.3) Types of AF: Permanent AF almost accounted for half of our cases (49.9%), paroxysmal and persistent AF were 26.5% and 23.6% respectively.4) Paroxysmal AF was mainly treated with rate control (51.0%). Meanwhile 66.9% patients with chronic AF had therapeutical strategy of rate controll. In patients with chronic AF, only 3.1% patients had been attempted to convert to sinus rhythm, and almost all of these patients use amiodarone; 5)The prevalence of stroke in this group was 16.5%. The risk factors that significantly associated with stroke included advanced age, left atrium diameter, and type of AF.70.3% of our patients received antithrombotic therapy. Among them, 30.7% use antiplatelets, 20.3% use anticoagulants, and 14.2% combined. In this investigation patients with anticoagulants as well as patients with anticoagulants combined antiplatelets showed significant lower stroke rate in comparison with those managed neither. However antiplatelets has no significant effect on lower stroke rate. Conclusion: Most epidemiologic factors of AF from this group showed highly in accordance with those from the reports from other countries, such as age distribution, causes and associated conditions, type of AF, risk factors of stroke and so on. Paroxysmal AF was mainly managed with strategy of rate control and chronic AF dominantly with approach of rate control1. Han and minors race have many differents in AF type, causes, age, stroke and left atrium thrombus, we should give different treatment strategy. 70.3% patients received antithrombotic therapy. Anticoagulant treatments significantly reduced stroke rate. But there was significant difference between antiplatelet and anticoagulant treatments in reducing stroke rate.