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INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Although atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most commonly occurring arrhythmia in the general population and is a serious health problem, its incidence in patients on hemodialysis is unknown. Our objectives were to determine the incidence of AF in our hemodialysis patients, to investigate factors that predispose to its occurrence, and to assess the clinical implications of AF. METHODS: In total, 164 patients in sinus rhythm (SR) were followed for seven years. The occurrence of AF and its influence on mortality and on the occurrence of thromboembolic events were recorded. RESULTS: In a mean follow-up period of 47 (29.5) months (i.e., 643.2 patient-years), 20 patients developed AF (3.1 per 100 patient-years). It was not possible to identify factors that predisposed to the arrhythmia. In patients aged > or =65 years, 1-year and 2-year mortality rates following the occurrence of AF were 38% and 53%, respectively, whereas the rates in those who remained in SR were 14% and 31%, respectively (P=NS). The development of AF was not found to be an independent predictor of mortality. Five patients in the AF group experienced six thromboembolic episodes in a follow-up period of 23.6 (21.4) months (i.e., 15 episodes per 100 patient-years), compared with three episodes per 100 patient-years in the SR group (relative risk=5.2; 95% CI, 2.1-12.4). CONCLUSIONS: Each year, three in every 100 patients in our dialysis unit developed AF. The occurrence of AF increased the risk of a thromboembolic complication five-fold. The use of anticoagulant treatment in these patients should be carefully evaluated.

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Introducción y objetivos. Aunque la fibrilación auricular (FA) es la arritmia más frecuente en la población y constituye un relevante problema social y sanitario, su incidencia en los pacientes en hemodiálisis es desconocida. El objetivo es determinar la incidencia de FA en nuestra población en hemodiálisis, analizar los factores que condicionan su aparición y su influencia en la evolución clínica. Métodos. Seguimos, durante 7 años, a 164 pacientes que se encontraban en ritmo sinusal (RS). Determinamos la aparición de FA y su influencia en la mortalidad y en la aparición de fenómenos tromboembólicos. Resultados. Durante un seguimiento medio de 47 ± 29,5 meses (643,2 pacientes-año), 20 pacientes desarrollaron FA (3,1/100 pacientes-año), sin que se identificaran los factores que condicionaron la aparición de la arritmia. En el grupo ≥ 65 años, la mortalidad al primer y segundo año tras la aparición de FA fue del 38 y el 53%, respectivamente, mientras que en los pacientes que mantuvieron el RS fue del 14 y el 31% (p = NS); el desarrollo de FA no se mostró como factor predictor independiente de mortalidad. Cinco pacientes del grupo de FA desarrollaron 6 episodios tromboembólicos durante un seguimiento de 23,6 ± 21,4 meses (15 episodios/100 pacientes-año), mientras que el grupo que mantuvo el RS presentó 3 episodios/100 pacientes-año (riesgo relativo [RR] = 5,2; intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 2,1-12,4). Conclusiones. Tres de cada 100 pacientes desarrollaron, cada año, FA en nuestra unidad de diálisis. La aparición de FA incrementó en 5 veces el riesgo de presentar una complicación tromboembólica. La utilización del tratamiento anticoagulante en estos pacientes necesita ser cuidadosamente evaluada (AU)

Introduction and objectives. Although atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most commonly occurring arrhythmia in the general population and is a serious health problem, its incidence in patients on hemodialysis is unknown. Our objectives were to determine the incidence of AF in our hemodialysis patients, to investigate factors that predispose to its occurrence, and to assess the clinical implications of AF. Methods. In total, 164 patients in sinus rhythm (SR) were followed for seven years. The occurrence of AF and its influence on mortality and on the occurrence of thromboembolic events were recorded. Results. In a mean follow-up period of 47 (29.5) months (i.e., 643.2 patient-years), 20 patients developed AF (3.1 per 100 patient-years). It was not possible to identify factors that predisposed to the arrhythmia. In patients aged ≥65 years, 1-year and 2-year mortality rates following the occurrence of AF were 38% and 53%, respectively, whereas the rates in those who remained in SR were 14% and 31%, respectively (P=NS). The development of AF was not found to be an independent predictor of mortality. Five patients in the AF group experienced six thromboembolic episodes in a follow-up period of 23.6 (21.4) months (i.e., 15 episodes per 100 patient-years), compared with three episodes per 100 patient-years in the SR group (relative risk=5.2; 95% CI, 2.1-12.4). Conclusions. Each year, three in every 100 patients in our dialysis unit developed AF. The occurrence of AF increased the risk of a thromboembolic complication five- fold. The use of anticoagulant treatment in these patients should be carefully evaluated (AU)

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