Atrial thrombi in elective patients considered for atrial fibrillation rhythm control: Risk factors and prognostic value

• Main Authors: Marcella Cabral Caires, Roberto Muniz Ferreira, Thaís Fonseca Rodrigues, David Hong Kang, Lúcia Helena Alvares Salis, Nelson Albuquerque de Souza e Silva
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2021-03-01
• Series: Indian Heart Journal
• Subjects: Atrial fibrillation; Risk factors; Prognosis
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0019483221000353
• ISSN: 0019-4832

The prognostic value of atrial thrombi (AT) among elective patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) referred for a rhythm control strategy is unclear. In this study, clinical variables were correlated with the presence of AT and long term survival among 205 patients submitted to transesophageal echocardiography before elective AF cardioversion or ablation. Atrial thrombi were present in 7.8% of cases and were significantly associated with reduced survival. Obesity was the only independent clinical predictor of AT [OR 4.27 (1.15–15.79), p = 0.03]. In patients with AF, AT appear to be associated with adverse outcomes, possibly indicating more advanced atrial cardiomyopathy.