Variables AF Group
(n = 185)
Control Group
(n = 189)
p Value
Age, y 65.9 ± 10.1 65.7 ± 10.3 0.957
Male gender, n (%) 116 (62.7%) 115 (60.8%) 0.712
Risk factors for coronary artery disease, n (%)      
Systemic hypertension 102 (55.1%) 97 (51.3%) 0.460
Diabetes mellitus 31 (16.8%) 35 (18.5%) 0.655
Hypercholesterolaemia 49 (26.5%) 63 (33.3%) 0.148
Current smokers 42 (22.7%) 54 (28.6%) 0.194
Family history of coronary disease 22 (11.9%) 21 (11.1%) 0.813
Baseline blood pressure and heart rate      
Systolic blood pressure, mmHg 127.8 ± 13.3 130.6 ±14.5 0.005
Diastolic blood pressure, mmHg 72.9 ± 10.1 73.8 ±10.6 0.479
Heart rate, beats/min 80.6 ±13.8 72.4 ± 12.7 <0.001
Echocardiographic parameters      
Left atrium diameter (parasternal axis), mm 38.3 ± 6.4 34.8 ± 5.9 <0.001
Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, mm 51.1 ± 9.6 49.6 ± 9.7 0.062
Left ventricular end-systolic diameter, mm 33.3 ± 5.9 32.7 ± 6.4 0.173
Interventricular septum thickness, mm 11.6 ± 1.6 11.5 ± 1.5 0.297
Posterior wall thickness, mm 10.0 ± 1.3 9.9 ± 1.2 0.284
Left ventricular ejection fraction, % 54.2 ± 10.5 57.9 ± 10.3 <0.001
Baseline use of medication, n (%)      
Digoxin 39 (21.1%) 18 (9.5%) 0.002
Aspirin 142 (76.8%) 157 (83.1%) 0.127
Clopidogrel 130 (70.3%) 147 (77.8%) 0.098
Statins 77 (41.6%) 91 (48.1%) 0.205
Beta-blockers 82 (44.3%) 77 (40.7%) 0.483
ACE inhibitors and/or ARBs 75 (40.5%) 82 (43.4%) 0.577
Calcium channel blockers 57 (30.8%) 61 (32.3%) 0.761
Diuretics 45 (24.3%) 41 (21.7%) 0.545
Nitrates 36 (19.5%) 35 (18.5%) 0.817
Values are given as number of patients (%) or mean ± SD
ACE: angiotensin-converting enzyme; ARB: Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker.
Table 1: Clinical and Echocardiographic Characteristics in the AF and Control Groups.Values are given as number of patients (%) or mean±SD. ACE: angiotensinconverting enzyme; ARB: angiotensin II receptor blocker.