Survivors and non survivors of new onset atrial fibrillation
Temporal pattern of daily laboratory blood markers amongst patient who developed NOAF, revealed raised median values for C-reactive protein, Ferritin, Creatinine kinase and troponin in non survivors than the survivors. However the difference did not reach statistical significance probably because of the size of the group (Figure 1). Electrical cardioversion was performed in 2 of the 16 patients with NOAF due to haemodynamic instability with rapidly conducted AF and all patients received antiarrhythmic (amiodarone) and rate control drug therapy (bisoprolol, non dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers or/and digoxin) in the absence of contraindications . Restoration of sinus rhythm was achieved in 87% prior discharge or death (14 patients). 1 patient remained in persistent AF on discharge.
Incidence of NOAF was observed earlier during the course of illness among non-survivors (7 days; IQR 6.5-11.0 days vs 17days; IQR 11.0-23days) in comparison to patients who survived the illness (p<0.005).