Table 1.
Characteristics of study population by presence of atrial fibrillation or sinus rhythm at baseline
| Atrial fibrillation (n = 173) | Sinus rhythm (n = 730) | P value | |
| Demographics and physical examination | |||
| Age (yr) | 72 ± 11 | 66 ± 12 | < 0.0001 |
| Age ≥ 65 yr (%) | 81 | 60 | < 0.0001 |
| Male gender (%) | 70 | 73 | 0.42 |
| SBP (mmHg) | 127 ± 18 | 130 ± 19 | 0.10 |
| DBP (mmHg) | 74 ± 10 | 75 ± 10 | 0.47 |
| NYHA II-III (%) | 60 | 44 | 0.0002 |
| Aetiology | |||
| CAD (%) | 28 | 52 | < 0.0001 |
| Previous CABG/PCI (%) | 21 | 37 | < 0.0001 |
| Without CAD (%) | 22 | 24 | 0.58 |
| Others/idiopathic (%) | 50 | 24 | < 0.0001 |
| Valve surgery (%) | 13 | 4 | < 0.0001 |
| Device | |||
| Any PM (%) | 30 | 19 | 0.001 |
| CRT-P/CRT-D (%) | 10 | 7 | 0.14 |
| ICD (%) | 11 | 16 | 0.07 |
| Any device (%) | 31 | 21 | 0.005 |
| History of VT (%) | 2 | 5 | 0.06 |
| Risk factors | |||
| Hypertension (%) | 61 | 60 | 0.81 |
| Diabetes mellitus (%) | 24 | 28 | 0.39 |
| Dyslipidaemia (%) | 23 | 37 | 0.0004 |
| Ever smoke (%) | 27 | 41 | 0.0010 |
| Comorbidities | |||
| Cancer history (%) | 12 | 10 | 0.47 |
| COPD (%) | 14 | 13 | 0.55 |
| Anaemia (%) | 6 | 10 | 0.11 |
| CKD (eGFR < 60) (%) | 7 | 8 | 0.57 |
| ECG | |||
| Heart rate (bpm) | 80 ± 19 | 70 ± 13 | < 0.0001 |
| PM stimulation (%) | 24 | 8 | < 0.0001 |
| Right bundle branch block (%) | 7 | 5 | 0.65 |
| Left bundle branch block (%) | 9 | 16 | 0.01 |
| Echocardiogram | |||
| Preserved LVEF (> 45%) (%) | 29 | 21 | 0.022 |
| LVEF (%) | 38 ± 14 | 35 ± 12 | 0.05 |
| Medications | |||
| Beta-blockers (%) | 72 | 80 | 0.01 |
| ACEi/ARB (%) | 71 | 79 | 0.02 |
| Beta-blockers and ACEi/ARB (%) | 51 | 66 | 0.0003 |
| Aldosterone blockers (%) | 46 | 37 | 0.02 |
| Diuretics (%) | 87 | 69 | < 0.0001 |
| Calcium channel blockers (%) | 6 | 13 | 0.01 |
| Alfa-blockers (%) | 6 | 8 | 0.55 |
| Digoxin (%) | 51 | 11 | < 0.0001 |
| Statin (%) | 28 | 49 | < 0.0001 |
| Amiodarone (%) | 6 | 13 | 0.01 |
| Antithrombotic treatment (%) | 19 | 63 | < 0.0001 |
| OAT (%) | 82 | 16 | < 0.0001 |
| DAPT (%) | 2 | 16 | < 0.0001 |
| OAT and antithrombotic (%) | 8 | 2 | 0.0006 |
| Antithrombotic only (%) | 11 | 61 | < 0.0001 |
SBP: Systolic blood pressure; DBP: Diastolic blood pressure; NYHA: New York Heart Association; CAD: Coronary artery disease; CABG: Coronary artery bypass grafting; PCI: Percutaneous coronary intervention; PM: Pacemaker; CRT-P/D: Cardiac resynchronization therapy pacing/defibrillator; ICD: Internal cardioverter defibrillator; VT: Ventricular tachycardia; COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CKD: Chronic kidney disease; eGFR: Estimated glomerular filtration rate (obtained by CKD-EPI formula); LVEF: Left ventricular ejection fraction; ACEi: ACE inhibitors; ARB: Angiotensin receptor blockers; OAT: Oral anticoagulant treatment; DAPT: Dual anti-platelet therapy.