Features of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Arterial Hypertension and Extracardial Disorders

Aim. To study the features of the progression of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with arterial hypertension (HT) and comorbid extracardiac diseases. Material and methods. In the observational cohort study 308 men 45-65 years old with AF and HT were observed Most patients also had the following comorbid extracardiac diseases: diabetes mellitus (DM; n=40), diffuse toxic goiter (DTG; n=42); hypothyroidism (HTH; n=59), abdominal obesity (AO; n=64), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; n=47). The comparison group consisted of 56 patients with AF and HT only. Clinical, anthropometric, laboratory parameters, levels of NT-proBNP and galectin-3, results of ECG, daily monitoring of ECG and blood pressure were assessed initially and after 12 months. Results. Persistent AF (29.6-65.2%) and long-term persistent AF (16-31.3%) were more common in groups with extracardiac diseases compared with the AF+HT group (20.4% and 14.2%, respectively). Permanent form of AF was statistically significantly more common in the DM (11.1%), AO (14.8%) and HTH (6.2%) groups compared with the AF+HT group (0.6%). A comparative assessment of risk factors (smoking and alcohol) did not show significant differences in prevalence in the groups (22-44%). An assessment of the levels of fibrosis and remodeling markers found a statistically significant increase in the level of galectin-3 in groups of patients with concomitant extracardiac diseases and an increase in the NT-proBNP level, relative to reference values in all groups except DTG. Conclusion. Patients with AF in combination with HT and comorbid extracardiac diseases have a more rapid AF progression.