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Atrial Fibrillation Risk Factors: Diabetes Mellitus As Independent Predictor

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Atrial fibrillation, a common and potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia, has been identified as a significant risk factor for patients with diabetes mellitus. A recent study published in Heart Rhythm O2 has sheds light on the clinical outcomes after catheter ablation in patients with and without diabetes mellitus. The research, conducted by a team of experts from Duke University Medical Center, revealed that while safety outcomes associated with AF ablation were similar between patients with and those without diabetes, arrhythmia-free survival was significantly lower among patients with diabetes.

Key Takeaways:

  • Diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF), with patients with DM having a higher risk of AF recurrence (19.4% vs. 13.3%).
  • Patients with diabetes mellitus were older, had a higher body mass index, more persistent AF, more hypertension, and larger left atrial diameter compared to those without diabetes.
  • Poor glycemic control was identified as an important risk factor for AF recurrence, with patients with uncontrolled diabetes having a higher risk of AF recurrence (29.5% vs. 16.3%).
  • The study concluded that catheter ablation outcomes for patients with diabetes mellitus are comparable to those without diabetes, but arrhythmia-free survival is significantly lower among patients with diabetes.
  • The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health, NIH; Boston Scientific; Abbott; Biotronik; Medtronic; LivaNova; Gilead; Janssen Pharmaceuticals; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Pfizer; American Heart Association; Bayer; Allergan; Sanofi; Philips.
  • The study included 351 consecutive patients who underwent first-time AF ablation, with 65 patients having diabetes mellitus (DM) and 286 patients without DM.

Statistics:

  • 19.4% of patients with DM experienced AF recurrence at 1-year follow-up compared to 13.3% of patients without DM.
  • 29.5% of patients with uncontrolled diabetes experienced AF recurrence at 1-year follow-up compared to 16.3% of patients with controlled diabetes.
  • 65 patients with DM (18.6% of the study population) experienced periprocedural complications compared to 27 patients without DM (9.4% of the study population).

Sources:

  • Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients with diabetes mellitus. Heart Rhythm O2, 2020, 1(3): 180-188. DOI: 10.1016/j.hroo.2020.04.006.
  • NewsRx. Research from Duke University Medical Center Provides New Study Findings on Atrial Fibrillation (Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients with diabetes mellitus). Cardiovascular Week. September 20, 2021; p 224.

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