CardiomyopathyRelation of Interatrial Block to New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Chagas Cardiomyopathy and Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators
Section snippets
Methods
The present study was a retrospective analysis of patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy and an ICD implanted for primary or secondary prevention at 14 Latin American centers included in the Fragmented ECG in Chagas Cardiomyopathy Study.11
The inclusion criteria were (1) Chagas cardiomyopathy diagnosed by positive serologic tests and classic criteria, including living in endemic areas, ECG, and chest x-ray criteria, (2) ICD implanted for primary or secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death, and
Results
A total of 94 patients were analyzed of whom 14 were unable to be enrolled (atrial pacing, permanent atrial arrhythmias, and illegible ECGs), leaving 80 patients suitable for inclusion in the study. Baseline characteristics and medications are summarized in Table 1. The indication for ICD was secondary prevention in 70% of patients. Devices implanted were single chamber in 31%, dual chamber in 65%, and resynchronization therapy in 4%.
Mean P-wave duration was 107.4 ± 12.6 ms, and IAB was
Discussion
The results of this study demonstrate that the presence of IAB in Chagas cardiomyopathy is associated with the development of new-onset AF. This is relevant considering that this arrhythmia is a major cause of stroke in this population12, 13 and an established predictor of poor prognosis.
Data regarding AF in Chagas cardiomyopathy are limited and heterogeneous, most of them from cross-sectional studies. In a large cohort of chagasic patients, Rassi et al3 found that AF or flutter was present on
Disclosures
The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
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