Introduction

Anticoagulant treatment in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and sinus rhythm is controversial due to haemorrhage risk.

Objective

To analyze the factors predicting atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and ejection fraction (LVEF) < 40%.

Method

All patients included in UMBRELLA multicentre registry without AF, who had a dual or three-chamber implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD), dilated cardiomyopathy and LVEF < 40% were included. AF was defined as any episode > 30 seconds of duration and atrial frequency > 175 bpm.

Results

684 patients were included. Median age was 70 years (IQR 62-77); 79.1% were male. LVEF was < 30% in 76.3% of cases; 87.3% presented clinical heart failure (CHF). A CRT-D was implanted in 59.5%; 51.2% of patients presented Left Bundle Branch Block (LBBB) and 7.1% presented Right Bundle Branch Block (RBBB). AF was documented in 49% of patients, with a median follow-up of 29.93 months (IQR: 14.78-45.63). The presence of CHF (HR: 2; 95% CI: 1.31-3.04; p = 0.001), RBBB (HR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1-2-18; p = 0.045), previous stroke (HR: 2.11; 95% CI: 1.4-3.19; p < 0.001) and age > 75 years (HR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.05-1.40; p = 0.008) were associated with diagnosis of AF.

Conclusions

Age > 75 years, RBBB, CHF and previous stroke are predictors of AF development in the population with dilated cardiomyopathy and LVEF < 40%.

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