Long-term impact of new-onset atrial fibrillation complicating acute myocardial infarction on heart failure: insights from the NOAFCAMI-SH registry

Abstract Background New-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been associated with poor survival, but the clinical implication of NOAF on subsequent heart failure (HF) is still not well studied. We aimed to investigate the relationship between NOAF following AMI and HF hospitalization. Methods This retrospective cohort study was conducted between February 2014 and March 2018, using data from the New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction in ShangHai registry, where all participants did not have a documented AF history. Patients with AMI who discharged alive and had complete echocardiography and follow-up data were analyzed. The primary outcome was HF hospitalization, which was defined as a minimum of an overnight hospital stay of a participant who presented with symptoms and signs of HF or received intravenous diuretics. Results A total of 2075 patients were included, of whom 228 developed NOAF during the index AMI hospitalization. During up to 5 years of follow-up (median: 2.7 years), 205 patients (9.9%) experienced HF hospitalization and 220 patients (10.6%) died. The incidence rate of HF hospitalization among patients with NOAF was 18.4% per year compared with 2.8% per year for those with sinus rhythm. After adjustment for confounders, NOAF was significantly associated with HF hospitalization (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.30–4.28; p