Distribution of First-Detected Atrial Fibrillation Patients Without Structural Heart Diseases in Symptom Classifications

Abstract

Background: The characteristics and prognosis of patients with first-detected atrial fibrillation (AF) in Japan remain unclear. Methods and Results: First-detected AF patients without structural heart disease (n=289) were reviewed with regard to 2 symptom classifications (CCS-SAF and EHRA). In both classifications, asymptomatic patients comprised ≈40% of the patients, and patients in the most symptomatic class (≈6%) had peculiar characteristics and poor prognosis. In other symptomatic classes, symptoms affected the treatment strategy without a significant difference in the patients' backgrounds and prognosis. Conclusions: This is the first report to describe the distribution, characteristics and outcomes of first-detected AF patients according to symptom classifications. (Circ J 2012; 76: 1020-1023)