Study of Atrial Fibrillation in Terms of Rheumatic Heart disease with Valvular lesion: An Observational Study

This study was designed to estimate incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients of rheumatic heart disease and to correlate clinically with valvular lesion, systemic embolization and with recurrent respiratory infections.

47patients were randomly assigned with different groups according to type of valvular lesion, age group, sex and severity. The incidence of atrial fibrillation was compared to different age groups, type of valvular lesion, systemic embolization and recurrent respiratory tract infections.

The incidence of atrial fibrillation was 21 out of 47 cases (44.68%). The highest incidence of atrial fibrillation was in the age group of 21–30 yrs 12 (57.14%) and the incidence was more in females 8 (66.67%) as compared to males 4 (33.33%). The incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients with pure mitral stenosis was 14 (50%) out of 28 and in cases of predominant mitral regurgitation 5(41.67%) out of 12. The incidence of atrial fibrillationwas more in cases of mitral stenosiswith valve area <1 cm² 10 (71.43%) ascompared to the cases of mitralstenosis with mitral valve area>1 cm² 4 (28.57%).out of 21 patients of atrial fibrillation 5 (23.81%) had evidence of systemic embolization. Out of 5, 3 (60%) had cerebral, 1 (20%) had peripheral and 1 (20%) had mesenteric embolization. In 26 patients without atrial fibrillation only 2 (7.69%) had evidence of respiratory tract infection. Whereas out of 21 patients with atrial fibrillation had5 (23.81%) respiratory tract infections.

Incidence of atrial fibrillation was significantly higher in females and in the age group of 21–30 yrs of rheumatic heart disease and increased with severity of valvular lesion. Atrial fibrillation was significantly associated withsystemic embolization and recurrent respiratory tract infection.