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Spontaneous conversion of first onset atrial fibrillation
Author(s) -
Lindberg S.,
Hansen S.,
Nielsen T.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.2011.02600.x
Subject(s) - medicine , confidence interval , atrial fibrillation , odds ratio , sinus rhythm , cardiology , logistic regression
Background/Aim We studied all patients admitted to hospital with first onset atrial fibrillation ( AF ) to determine the probability of spontaneous conversion to sinus rhythm and to identify factors predictive of such a conversion. Methods We retrospectively reviewed charts of 438 consecutive patients admitted to hospital with first onset AF from 1 J anuary 2006 to 31 D ecember 2009. The patients were divided into two groups, recent onset AF defined as AF < 48 h or longer lasting AF , defined as AF > 48 h. Results Spontaneous conversion occurred in 54% ( n = 203; 95% confidence interval: 49–59%). In the group with first onset AF < 48 h, spontaneous conversion occurred in 77%, compared with 36% in the group with first onset AF > 48 h. Logistic regression analysis identified duration of AF as a highly significant predictor of spontaneous conversion to sinus rhythm (odds ratio 5.9; 95% confidence interval: 4.0–8.6, P < 0.001). Conclusions Spontaneous conversion occurred in 54%, increasing to 77% when AF had persisted less than 48 h.