General cardiovascular risk and functional indicators of the permanent atrial fibrillation

Introduction: No doubt today that atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolic events. Simultaneously we did not find any investigation about the links between general cardiovascular risk (GCVR) and the frequency forms and functional parameters of the heart in patients with AF. The aim: To study the frequency forms and functional indices of the heart in patients with permanent AF in GCVR groups. Materials and methods: 157 patients with permanent AF (99 men and 58 women) aged 64.6 ± 9.7 years were examined. The frequency of ventricular contractions, the duration of the ventricular complex (QRS), the corrected QT interval (QTc), power indices of the spectrum of heart rate variability (HRV) were measured by ECG. Echocardiographic parameters were studied using a SIM 5000 plus medical diagnostic automated echocardiograph. Patients were classified into GCVR groups. Results and conclusions: The existence of relationships of GCVR with frequency forms of AF and functional indicators of the heart was established. In patients of the class I-III GCVR groups, the tachysystolic form of AF prevailed. Its frequency increases with the rise of the GCVR class. In GCVR IV, redistribution of forms of AF occurs in the direction of normosystolic ones. Among the functional parameters of the heart, the left ventricular ejection fraction and the power of the HRV spectra are most closely associated with GCVR.