Epidemiological characteristics of patients with atrial fibrillation over 65 years old

Orlando Castaño-Cifuentes, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Unidad de Cardiología, Servicio de Consulta Externa, Clínica Sebastián de Belalcázar, Valle del Cauca, Cali, Colombia
Stephany Barbosa-Balaguera, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Unidad de Cardiología, Servicio de Consulta Externa, Clínica Sebastián de Belalcázar, Valle del Cauca, Cali, Colombia
Jacobo Barona-Diaz, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Unidad de Cardiología, Servicio de Consulta Externa, Clínica Sebastián de Belalcázar, Valle del Cauca, Cali, Colombia
Juan F. Bravo-Rueda, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Unidad de Cardiología, Servicio de Consulta Externa, Clínica Sebastián de Belalcázar, Valle del Cauca, Cali, Colombia
Valentina Castaño-Sinisterra, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Unidad de Cardiología, Servicio de Consulta Externa, Clínica Sebastián de Belalcázar, Valle del Cauca, Cali, Colombia
Martín E. Arrieta-Mendoza, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Unidad de Cardiología, Servicio de Cardiología Clínica, Hospital Universitario del Valle, Valle del Cauca, Cali, Colombia
Angela M. Timaran-Cordoba, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Unidad de Cardiología, Servicio de Consulta Externa, Clínica Sebastián de Belalcázar, Valle del Cauca, Cali, Colombia
Elsa M. Vasquez-Trespalacios, Unidad de Epidemiologia, Servicio de Epidemiología, Universidad del CES, Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia

Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an arrhythmia characterized by irregular atrial activity. Its prevalence increases with age and comorbidity such as hypertension. The aim is to describe the clinical, demographic, and therapeutic characteristics of patients diagnosed with AF in a cohort treated as outpatients. Method: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. We reviewed medical records of patients diagnosed with AF over 65 years of age were reviewed, documenting demographic, clinical, and paraclinical variables. A univariate analysis was performed, the nature of the variables was analyzed, and a bivariate analysis of demographic and clinical factors was performed independently according to the type of AF. Results: A total of 432 records were obtained. 58% of the population was female. The mean age was 78 years, and the most prevalent comorbidity was hypertension (81%). Paroxysmal AF was the most common (42%). 91% of patients were receiving direct-acting anticoagulants. The mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 3.5. 85% of patients with permanent AF had a rate control strategy. Patients with rate control had larger left atrial volumes (p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences by sex in the variables analyzed. Conclusions: This study constitutes one of the first local characterizations of AF in older adults and shows a clinical pattern consistent with international reports. Anticoagulation patterns are consistent with those proposed by the guidelines, and the percentage of use is higher than previously reported. However, there are differences in access to advanced therapies, probably due to economic reasons.

Keywords: Atrial fibrillation. Anticoagulation. Heart rate control. Heart failure.