Can Echocardiographic Parameters Predict the Missing Link between Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation and Permanent Pacemakers? (Echocardiography and subclinical AF in permanent pacemaker)

Abstract Background and Objectives: Patients on implanted permanent pacemakers frequently develop atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to determine the Echocardiographic and clinical parameters predicting AF in patients with a dual-chamber (DDD) pacemaker.Methods: This retrospective study included 208 patients with permanent pacemaker, classified according to development of AF during follow up into 2 groups: AF (77, 37%) and non AF (131, 63%), baseline: clinical, ECG(P-wave dispersion) and echo {diastolic wall strain (DWS),left arial volume index (LAVI), left ventricular stiffness index(LVSI)} data were assessed.Results: AF group were older with more P wave dispersion, lesser DWS, greater LVSI& LAVI, LVSI at a cut off >0.13 and DWS at a cut off <0.34 were predictors of AF in patients with DDD pacemakers.Conclusion: LVSI and DWS could be used as simple good predictors for AF in patients with DDD pacemakers, for timely initiation of anticoagulants according to CHA2DS2VASc score to decrease ischemic stroke burden.