Long-Term Mortality of Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract

Introduction: This study sought to determine long-term all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients and Methods: The study included 352 patients (153 males, 199 females; mean age 62 years; range 34 to 82 years) who presented to our clinic between 1995 and 2010 and were diagnosed with nonvalvular AF. The follow-up ranged from 72 to 176 months (mean 110 months). Results: The causes or associated conditions of AF were hypertension (51.1%), coronary heart disease (29.9%), heart failure (48.8%), diabetes mellitus (11.9%), and pulmonary hypertension (9.9%). Seventy-two patients (21%) died during the follow-up period. Cardiovascular death was noted in 30 patients (41.7%). Sudden death was seen in six patients (8.3%). Death from stroke occurred in 20 patients (27.8%), and 16 patients (22.2%) died of other causes (malignancies, accidents, infectious causes, etc.). Conclusion: The major cause of death was of cardiovascular origin in patients with nonvalvular AF.