Table 3. Baseline characteristics for longest AHRE duration ≤6 hours (n=321) versus >6 hours (n=49).
| Variables | AHREs ≤6 hours (n=321) | AHREs >6 hours (n=49) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 73 (66–79) | 75 (67–79) | 0.621 | |
| Male | 127 (39.6) | 23 (46.9) | 0.410 | |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 24.0 (22.2–25.9) | 24.4 (22.5–26.5) | 0.598 | |
| Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 136 (123–149) | 130 (117–142) | 0.170 | |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 72 (65–80) | 70 (63–77) | 0.190 | |
| Heart rate (/min) | 62 (50–75) | 62 (51–74) | 0.933 | |
| Smoking | 0.881 | |||
| Never | 264 (82.2) | 41 (83.6) | ||
| Former/current | 57 (17.8) | 8 (16.4) | ||
| Alcohol | 0.560 | |||
| Never | 266 (82.9) | 40 (81.6) | ||
| Former/current | 55 (17.1) | 9 (18.4) | ||
| CHA2DS2-VAS score* | 3 (2–4) | 3 (2–5) | 0.155 | |
| CHA2DS2-VAS score, group | 0.573 | |||
| 0 | 11 (3.4) | 1 (2.0) | ||
| 1 | 48 (15.0) | 5 (10.2) | ||
| ≥2 | 262 (81.6) | 43 (87.8) | ||
| CHF | 8 (2.5) | 3 (6.1) | 0.346 | |
| Hypertension | 215 (67.0) | 34 (69.4) | 0.864 | |
| Age, ≥75 years | 144 (44.9) | 26 (53.1) | 0.358 | |
| Diabetes | 85 (26.5) | 9 (18.4) | 0.299 | |
| Prior stroke/TIA | 31 (9.7) | 12 (24.5) | 0.005 | |
| Vascular disease | 26 (8.1) | 7 (14.3) | 0.252 | |
| CKD | 27 (8.4) | 5 (10.2) | 0.189 | |
| Dyslipidemia | 92 (28.7) | 11 (22.4) | 0.509 | |
| Laboratory findings | ||||
| Estimated GFR (mL/min/1.73 m2) | 80.7 (64.4–94.0) | 81.0 (60.8–91.0) | 0.634 | |
| Free T4 (ng/dL) | 1.1 (1.0–1.3) | 1.1 (1.0–1.4) | 0.840 | |
| TSH (µIU/mL) | 1.7 (1.0–3.1) | 2.2 (1.2–4.6) | 0.209 | |
| Echocardiography | ||||
| LA diameter (mm) | 40 (35–45) | 42 (39–45) | 0.149 | |
| LVEF (%) | 66 (60–70) | 65 (60–70) | 0.838 | |
| E/Em | 11.0 (8.1–14.3) | 11.8 (8.9–16.2) | 0.366 | |
| Electrocardiogram | ||||
| PR interval (ms) | 185 (166–208) | 180 (164–204) | 0.286 | |
| QRS duration (ms) | 111 (90–143) | 94 (86–122) | 0.102 | |
| QTc interval (ms) | 455 (424–488) | 451 (425–476) | 0.292 | |
| Medications | ||||
| ARB/ACEi | 135 (42.1) | 23 (46.9) | 0.625 | |
| Beta blocker | 47 (14.6) | 8 (16.3) | 0.926 | |
| Calcium channel blocker | 97 (30.2) | 15 (30.6) | 1.000 | |
| Statin | 118 (36.8) | 21 (42.9) | 0.508 | |
| Diuretics | 66 (20.6) | 13 (26.5) | 0.446 | |
| Holter recording | ||||
| APC >1% | 25 (7.8) | 4 (8.2) | 1.000 | |
| VPC >1% | 21 (6.5) | 4 (8.2) | 0.908 | |
| Pacemaker indication | 0.001 | |||
| Sick sinus syndrome | 120 (37.4) | 31 (63.3) | ||
| AV block | 201 (62.6) | 18 (36.7) | ||
The data are presented as number (%) or median (interquartile interval). Non-parametric continuous variables, assessed using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov method, were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U tests.
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 a 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).