Does progression from paroxysmal to persistent atrial fibrillation worsen clinical outcomes such as hospital admissions and major adverse cardiovascular events?
Progression from paroxysmal to persistent AF within 1 year is associated with worse clinical outcomes, and can be predicted by age, underlying heart disease, and the HATCH score.
A substantial number of patients progress to sustained AF within 1 year. The clinical outcome of these patients regarding hospital admissions and major adverse cardiovascular events was worse compared with patients demonstrating no AF progression. Factors known to cause atrial structural remodeling (age and underlying heart disease) were independent predictors of AF progression. The HATCH score may help to identify patients who are likely to progress to sustained forms of AF in the near future.
Vos et al. (Mon,) studied this question.