Prognostic impact of new onset atrial fibrillation in acute non-ST elevation myocardial infarction data from the RICO survey

Patients presenting any one of the following criteria were excluded from the study: persistent ST elevation or new Q waves on ECG; unconfirmed MI diagnosis on behalf of another diagnosis (pulmonary embolism, aortic dissection, acute pericarditis); post-percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty MI or post-coronary artery bypass graft MI; delay from symptom onset to presentation > 24 hours; permanent AF before admission. According to recent guidelines, 5 ECGs were monitored for the occurrence of AF or ventricular arrhythmias including ventricular tachycardias (recording of more than three ventricular ectopic beats) and ventricular fibrillations, for three days after admission.