Abstract
Background and Aims
Atrial fibrillation (AF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are common and often co-existing conditions. However, little is known on the prevalence and incidence of AF in patients with CKD stage 4-5.
Method
We prospectively recruited 210 consecutive non-dialysis patients with CKD stage 4-5 between 2013 and 2017. Follow-up data on AF occurrence as well as baseline medical history, laboratory tests and echocardiography were collected.
Results
At baseline, mean age was 62 years, 73/210 (34.8%) of the participants were female, mean estimated glomerular filtration rate was 12.8ml/min and 41/210 (19.5%) patients had a prior diagnosis of AF. After median follow-up of 46 [IQR 27] months, new-onset AF was detected in 33/169 (19.5%) patients (69.9 events/1000 person-years). Overall, 22/33 (66.7%) of patients with new-onset AF were identified with a triggering condition, most commonly severe infection or surgery, and 21/33 (63.6%) were receiving renal replacement therapy (dialysis or acquired kidney transplant) at the time of AF detection, respectively. In Cox proportional hazard model age >60 years (HR 4.27, CI95% 1.57-11.64, p<0.01), elevated troponin T (TnT) >50ng/l (HR 3.61, CI95% 1.55-8.37, p<0.01) and left atrial volume index (LAVI) >30ml/m2 (HR 4.82, CI95% 1.11-21.00, p=0.04) independently predicted the occurrence of new-onset AF. Furthermore, the predictive effect of the covariates was cumulative (Figure 1).
Conclusion
The incidence rate of AF was remarkably high in this prospective study on patients with CKD stage 4-5. Elevated TnT and increased LAVI are associated with the occurrence of new-onset AF in patients with severe CKD.