Atrial Fibrillation In Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background: Although atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication of acute myocardial infarction (MI), patients characteristics and association with outcomes remain poorly defined.
Material and method: A prospective study of 341 consecutive patients admitted to the conducted in the Clinic of Cardiology – Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases Tg Mures – from 31 Jan 08 to 31 Dec 10 with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Patients underwent routine clinical exam, lab tests, echocardiogram.
Results: The incidence of atrial fibrillation complicating myocardial infarction was 11.6%. Statistically significant correlations were found between atrial fibrillation and age (p <0.001), smoking (p <0.01), and mitral regurgitation (p <0.05).
Conclusions: Post-MI AF is more common in older patients, in patients with heart failure, and after more extensive infarction. AF is a common complication of acute MI in smoking patients and in patients with significant mitral regurgitation.