TO STUDY ETIOLOGICAL FACTORS AND CLINICAL PROFILE IN PATIENTS OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

Atrial fibrillation is a condition in which there is disorganized, irregular and rapid activation of the atria, resulting in the loss of atrial contraction. This leads to an irregular ventricular rate, which is dictated by the conduction between the atria and the ventricles. Atrial fibrillation is the prevailing heart arrhythmia in clinical practice. The incidence and prevalence of AF is becoming more common worldwide. According to statistics from the Framingham Heart Study (FHS), the occurrence of atrial fibrillation has tripled in the past 50 years. In 2016, the Global Burden of Disease project calculated that there were approximately 46.3 million people worldwide who had atrial fibrillation. Palpitations, a perception of rapid or irregular heartbeat, are the prevailing symptom in those experiencing intermittent atrial fibrillation. This may cause significant anxiety in certain individuals. AF can manifest in a range of clinical presentations, from asymptomatic cases with a fast heart rate to severe conditions like cardiogenic shock or a severe stroke. Atrial fibrillation can occur as a complication of any heart illnesses and may also be present without any evident underlying conditions. The etiologic factors include rheumatic heart diseases, ischaemic heart diseases (IHD) with acute myocardial infarction, hypertensive heart disorders, thyrotoxicosis, and cardiomyopathies. Additional infrequently encountered factors include congenital heart illnesses such as ASD, atrial dilatation resulting from myocarditis or pulmonary embolism, acute pericarditis, pericardial constriction, COPD, and old age. The clinical risk factors for AF encompass factors such as increasing age, diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure, rheumatic and non rheumatic valve disease, and myocardial infarction. The echocardiographic risk factors associated with non-rheumatic atrial fibrillation (AF) include expansion of the left atrium, thickening of the left ventricular wall, and a decrease in left ventricular fractional shortening. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an independent and significant risk factor for stroke, leading to a risk that is approximately 3 to 5 times higher than normal. In addition, whereas the risks attributed to most stroke risk factors decrease as people become older, the risks attributed to stroke related with AF significantly increase with age. These chances go from 1.5% for individuals aged 50 to 59, to 23.5% for those aged 80 to 89. Several observations suggest that the burden of AF might be expected to rise. The population is aging, and the incidence of AF increases with advancing age. This study aims to identify and explain etiological factors associated with atrial fibrillation.