Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and CKD are commonly coexisting conditions. However, data on epidemiology of AF in patients with CKD stage 4-5 is scarce.
Methods: We prospectively enrolled 210 consecutive non-dialysis patients with CKD stage 4-5 between 2013 and 2017. Follow-up data on AF incidence along with medical history, laboratory tests, and echocardiography at baseline were gathered.
Results: At baseline, mean age was 62 years, estimated glomerular filtration rate 12.8 mL/min, and 73/210 (34.8%) participants were female. Altogether, 41/210 (19.5%) patients had a previous diagnosis of AF. After median follow-up of 46 [IQR 27] months, new-onset AF occurred in 33/169 (19.5%) patients (69.9 events/1,000 person-years). In the Cox proportional hazard model, age >60 years (HR 4.27, CI 95% 1.57-11.64, p < 0.01), elevated troponin T (TnT) >50 ng/L (HR 3.61, CI 95% 1.55-8.37, p < 0.01), and left atrial volume index (LAVI) >30 mL/m2 (HR 4.82, CI 95% 1.11-21.00, p = 0.04) were independently associated with the incidence of new-onset AF.
Conclusion: The prevalence and incidence of AF was markedly high in this prospective study on patients with CKD stage 4-5. Elevated TnT and increased LAVI were independently associated with the occurrence of new-onset AF in patients with severe CKD.
Keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Chronic kidney disease; Incidence; Left atrial volume index; Troponin T.
© 2020 S. Karger AG, Basel.