Atrial Fibrillation and Morbidity and Mortality in a Cohort of Long-term Hemodialysis Patients
Received 28 May 2007; accepted 15 October 2007.
Background
Atrial fibrillation is associated with increased mortality and hospitalization in the general population. Data about mortality, morbidity, and hospitalization in hemodialysis patients with atrial fibrillation are limited.
Setting & Participants
All patients (n = 476) in 5 dialysis centers in Lombardia, Italy, as of June 2003 were enrolled and followed up until June 2006 (median age, 69 years; median hemodialysis duration, 45.2 months; and median follow-up, 36 months). 127 patients had atrial fibrillation at enrollment.
Predictors & Outcome
A Cox model was used to relate: (1) atrial fibrillation, age, hemodialysis therapy duration, and comorbid conditions to all-cause and cardiovascular mortality; (2) angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitor treatment and comorbid conditions to new onset of atrial fibrillation; and (3) atrial fibrillation and comorbid conditions on hospitalization.
Results
There were 167 deaths (39.5% from cardiovascular disease). In multivariable models, atrial fibrillation was independently associated with increased mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18 to 2.31). This was more notable for cardiovascular (HR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.27 to 3.64) than noncardiovascular mortality (HR, 1.39; 95% CI, 0.89 to 2.15). New-onset atrial fibrillation occurred in 35 of 349 individuals (4.1 events/100 person-years); the risk of incident atrial fibrillation was lower in those using ACE-inhibitor therapy (HR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.10 to 0.82) and higher in those with left ventricular hypertrophy (HR, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.04 to 6.26). There were 539 hospitalizations during 3 years, with 114 hospitalizations in 162 patients with atrial fibrillation and 155 hospitalizations in 314 patients without atrial fibrillation (HR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.18 to 2.01). Rates of stroke did not significantly differ by atrial fibrillation status (P = 0.4).
Limitations
Because of the observational nature of this study, results for treatment need confirmation in future trials.
Conclusions
Atrial fibrillation is associated with greater total and cardiovascular mortality. Patients with atrial fibrillation were hospitalized more frequently than patients without atrial fibrillation. ACE inhibitors may decrease the risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation.
1Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Prevenzione, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
2Clinica Nefrologica, Ospedale S. Gerardo, Monza, Italy
3Unità di Aritmologia, Ospedale S. Gerardo, Monza, Italy
4Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Prevenzione, Unità di Statistica Medica, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
Address correspondence to Simonetta Genovesi, MD, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Prevenzione, Università degli Studi Milano-Bicocca, Via Cadore 48, 20052 Monza (MI), Italy.
ABSTRACT