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Cardiac rhythm management
101 Role of cardiac autonomic function in pathophysiology of permanent AF
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  1. Ahsan Khan1,
  2. Rehan Junejo2,
  3. Neil Thomas3,
  4. James Fisher4,
  5. G. Lip5
  1. 1University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
  2. 2Manchester Metropolitan University
  3. 3Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham
  4. 4University of Auckland
  5. 5Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Liverpool and Liverpool Heart & Chest

Abstract

Introduction Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the commonest abnormal heart rhythm with significant related morbidity and mortality. There is increasing evidence that abnormalities of the cardiac autonomic nervous system (ANS) are involved in the pathogenesis of AF. Exploring the ANS is possible through heart rate variability (HRV) evaluation. We aimed to investigate whether HRV is more abnormal in patients with permanent AF compared to paroxysmal AF.

Methods In a cross-sectional comparison, we studied two patient groups: permanent AF (n = 30) and paroxysmal AF (n = 31). Time-domain, frequency-domain and non-linear measures of HRV were determined using eMotion Faros ECG sensor. Participant’s breathing was controlled with a metronome. Data was analysed using SPSS software.

Results Time-domain and non-linear indices of HRV were significant higher in permanent AF group compared to paroxysmal AF (table 1). Permanent AF was the only independent predictor of HRV on multivariable analysis in this cohort of patients (p=0.006).

View this table:
Abstract 101 Table 1

Differences in HRV

Conclusions HRV indices were significantly higher in permanent AF compared to paroxysmal AF which may suggest pronounced cardiac autonomic influence in the pathophysiology of permanent AF.

Conflict of Interest None

  • heart rate variability
  • permanent AF
  • paroxysmal AF

https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2021-BCS.100

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