PREDICTORS OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION IN PATIENT WITH MITRAL VALVE PATHOLOGY

Abstract

Background:
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia in patients with mitral valve pathology, significantly increasing the risk of stroke, heart failure, and mortality. Identifying predictors of AF in conservatively managed mitral valve disease patients remains underexplored and essential for early risk stratification and intervention.

Objective:
To determine the predictors of atrial fibrillation in patients with mitral valve pathology managed conservatively.

Methods:
A case-control study was conducted at the Department of Cardiology, NICVD Karachi, over six months. Eighty-two patients aged 30–70 years with mitral valve disease were enrolled, divided equally into cases (atrial fibrillation) and controls (sinus rhythm). Clinical, echocardiographic, and laboratory parameters were recorded. Binary logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors, and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.

Results:
The mean age of participants was higher in cases (56.2 ± 8.9 years) than controls (51.8 ± 9.2 years). Diabetes mellitus (aOR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.01–5.96), hypertension (aOR: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.01–5.26), ischemic heart disease (aOR: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.09–6.87), anemia (aOR: 4.12, 95% CI: 1.52–11.16), and hypoalbuminemia (aOR: 5.68, 95% CI: 2.01–16.01) were identified as independent predictors of atrial fibrillation.

Conclusion:
Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, anemia, and hypoalbuminemia independently increase the risk of atrial fibrillation in patients with mitral valve pathology. Early identification and management of these factors could help in reducing the burden of atrial fibrillation and improving patient outcomes.