The Prevalence of Atrial Fibrillation in Emergency Department

Background: The atrial fibrillation is a common cardiac disease presented to emergency all over the world. Studying prevalence management and risk factors is important in treatment planning for atrial fibrillation. Aim of study: To investigate the prevalence, management and risks of atrial fibrillation in emergency department. Patients and methods: A prospective cross-sectional study carried out in the Emergency department of Baghdad Teaching Hospital/Medical City Complex in Baghdad city-Iraq during duration of one year from 1st of January, till 31st of December, 2023 on sample of 195 patients presented with atrial fibrillation. The atrial fibrillation was diagnosed from interpretation of a 12-lead electrocardiography showing irregularly ventricular rhythm with no discrete P wave, but law amplitude, continuously varying fibrillatory waves. Results: From 49,134 patients presented to emergency department, 195 (0.39%) patients had atrial fibrillation. The common treatment of atrial fibrillation patients was metoprolol and 24 (12.3%) patients were died. Factors related to death were older age, female sex, altered mental status, long chief complaint duration, heart failure history, stroke history, lasix use, high CHA2DS2 VASc score, negative electrolyte disturbances, high WBC count, low platelets count, anemia, high serum creatinine level, high serum potassium level and nor-adrenaline infusion treatment. Conclusions: The prevalence of atrial fibrillation in emergency department of Baghdad Teaching hospital is low.