Table 2. Baseline characteristics for longest AHRE duration ≤6 min (n=258) versus >6 min (n=112).
| Variables | AHRE ≤6 min (n=258) | AHRE >6 min (n=112) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 73 (65–78) | 74 (67–80) | 0.358 | |
| Male | 102 (39.5) | 48 (42.9) | 0.629 | |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 24.0 (22.3–26.0) | 23.9 (22.1–26.1) | 0.532 | |
| Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 136 (124–150) | 133 (120–145) | 0.064 | |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 71 (65–80) | 70 (63–80) | 0.328 | |
| Heart rate (/min) | 60 (50–74) | 60 (50–72) | 0.595 | |
| Smoking | 0.539 | |||
| Never | 209 (81.0) | 92 (82.1) | ||
| Former/current | 49 (19.0) | 20 (17.8) | ||
| Alcohol | 0.558 | |||
| Never | 202 (78.3) | 90 (80.3) | 1.000 | |
| Former/current | 56 (21.7) | 22 (19.7) | ||
| CHA2DS2-VAS score* | 3 (2, 4) | 3 (2, 4) | 0.611 | |
| CHA2DS2-VAS score, group | 0.924 | |||
| 0 | 8 (3.1) | 4 (3.6) | ||
| 1 | 38 (14.7) | 15 (13.4) | ||
| ≥2 | 212 (82.2) | 93 (83.0) | ||
| CHF | 8 (3.1) | 3 (2.7) | 1.000 | |
| Hypertension | 177 (68.6) | 72 (64.3) | 0.488 | |
| Age ≥75 years | 116 (45.0) | 54 (48.2) | 0.643 | |
| Diabetes | 69 (26.7) | 25 (22.3) | 0.443 | |
| Prior stroke/TIA | 26 (10.1) | 17 (15.2) | 0.219 | |
| Vascular disease | 20 (7.8) | 13 (11.6) | 0.319 | |
| CKD | 22 (8.5) | 10 (8.9) | 0.925 | |
| Dyslipidemia | 76 (29.5) | 27 (24.1) | 0.572 | |
| Laboratory findings | ||||
| Estimated GFR (mL/min/1.73 m2) | 81.3 (65.1–95.0) | 79.5 (62.0–89.0) | 0.200 | |
| Free T4 (ng/dL) | 1.2 (1.0–1.3) | 1.1 (1.0–1.4) | 0.602 | |
| TSH (µIU/mL) | 1.8 (1.0–3.2) | 2.0 (1.0–3.3) | 0.611 | |
| Echocardiography | ||||
| LA diameter (mm) | 40 (35–45) | 42 (37–45) | 0.034 | |
| LVEF (%) | 67 (60–71) | 65 (60–70) | 0.380 | |
| E/Em | 11.0 (8.4–14.5) | 11.4 (8.3–14.8) | 0.601 | |
| Electrocardiogram | ||||
| PR interval (ms) | 184 (167–207) | 184 (163–207) | 0.469 | |
| QRS duration (ms) | 112 (90–144) | 98 (88–134) | 0.150 | |
| QTc interval (ms) | 455 (425–488) | 451 (421–477) | 0.304 | |
| Medications | ||||
| ARB/ACEi | 116 (45.0) | 42 (37.5) | 0.223 | |
| Beta blocker | 27 (10.5) | 28 (25.0) | 0.001 | |
| Calcium channel blocker | 81 (31.4) | 31 (27.7) | 0.554 | |
| Statin | 96 (37.2) | 43 (38.4) | 0.921 | |
| Diuretics | 54 (20.9) | 25 (22.3) | 0.871 | |
| Holter recording | ||||
| APC >1% | 13 (5.0) | 16 (14.3) | 0.005 | |
| VPC >1% | 14 (5.4) | 11 (9.8) | 0.186 | |
| Pacemaker indication | <0.001 | |||
| Sick sinus syndrome | 80 (31.0) | 71 (63.4) | ||
| AV block | 178 (69.0) | 41 (36.6) | ||
The data are presented as number (%) or median (interquartile interval). Non-parametric continuous variables, as assessed using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov method, were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test.
ACEi = angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor; AHREs = atrial high rate episodes; APC = atrial premature complex; ARB = angiotensin receptor blocker; AV = atrioventricular; BUN = blood urea nitrogen; CHF = congestive heart failure; CKD = chronic kidney disease; E/Em = the ratio of the early diastolic mitral inflow velocity (E) to the early diastolic mitral annular velocity (Em); GFR = glomerular filtration rate; LA = left atrium; LVEF = left ventricular ejection fraction; QTc = corrected QT; TIA = transient ischemic attack; TSH = thyroid-stimulating hormone; VPC = ventricular premature complex.
*The CHA2DS2-VAS score is a measure of the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, with scoring ranging from 0 to 9 and higher scores indicating greater risk. Congestive heart failure, hypertension, age 75 years or older (doubled), diabetes, stroke (doubled), vascular disease, age 65 to 74 years, sex category (female).