Fibrilación auricular en pacientes hospitalizados en servicios médicosaracterísticas clínicas, clústeres de multimorbilidad y factores pronósticos

Abstract

Objective: to know the characteristics of the hospitalized patients suffering from AF (atrial fibrillation). Methods: cohort study in the medical area of hospital of Lugo ( 2000-2015). Results: 170.978 hospital admissions (30.633 -17,9%- with AF) were registered, corresponding to 74.220 patients (14.538 -19,6%- with AF). 97.5% of hospitalized patients with FA had multi-morbidity, as well as older age (78,4 ± 10,4 vs. 67,2 ± 18,0), more chronic pathologies (3,2 ± 1,6 vs. 1,9 ± 1,5), longer hospital stays (12,1 ± 12,1 vs. 10,4 ± 19,3) and higher re-admission rates (3,1 ± 2,9 vs. 2,2 ± 2,4). Older age and female gender, however not FA itself, were the risk factors associated with the highest mortality. We describe a cluster of disease which comprises AF, congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic kidney disease (CKD) and heart valve disease (HVD). In comparison to those not included therein, the patients included show: older age (77,6 ± 11,2 vs. 70,3 ± 14,5), higher re-admission rate (3,1 ± 2,9 vs. 2,2 ± 2,1), longer mean stay (34,2 ± 37,0 vs. 22,2 ± 31,2) and higher mortality rate (56,2% vs. 43,8%). Conclusions: hospitalized patients with FA have multi-morbidity and distinctive characteristics. We describe a cluster of diseases including FA, whose patients show a characteristic clinical behavior. This leads to a truer approach to the clinical reality of this disease, and thus helps improve its management.