Abstract
The incidence, symptoms, characteristics of laboratory findings, background diseases, the status of treatment and complications of atrial fibrillation in cases that received regular check-ups in our institute in 2000 were studied. Among 14,117 subjects (mean age: 46.1 y.o.),49 cases (0.35%,46men and 3 women) had atrial fibrillation. No significant differences were found in body mass index, fasting blood sugar and HbA1c between cases with sinus rhythm and atrial fibrillation. Systolic blood pressure (123 ± 18mmHg versus 130 ±17mmHg), y -GTP (37.2 ± 48.4 versus 60.0 ± 40.5), C-reactive protein (0.09 ± 0.11mg/dl versus 0.21 ± 0.21mg/dl), the incidence of cardiomegaly on chest X-ray (10% versus 42%)were significantly higher in cases with atrial fibrillation.58.5% of the cases were symptom free. Symptoms found were palpitations (26.8%), chest pain (14.6%) and shortness of breath (9.8%). Among cases with atrial fibrillation,78.0% received further examination and 73.2%were already taking medications. Drugs used were Aspirin (35.7%), Digoxin (35.7%), Warfarin (21.4%), Ticlopidine (17.9%) and Verapamil (10.7%). Background diseases and complications were hypertension (62.5%), hyperlipidemia (33.3%), valvular heart disease (20.0%), angina pectoris (8.3%), myocardial infarction (8.3%), cerebral infarction (8.3%), hyperuricemia (4.2%), diabetes mellitus (4.2%) and cardiomyopathy (4.2%). One case died of cerebral infarction in spite of ordinary anticoagulant therapy. CRP elevation in cases with atrial fibrillation (p<0.025) may reflect an inflammatory state that promotes the persistence of atrial fibrillation.
