Abstract

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in patients (pts) with heart failure, which significantly influences survival. Aim of the study: to assess prognosis of pts with refractory heart failure (rHF) qualified for heart transplantation (HTX).
Material/Method: 872 pts (107 W and 765 M) were qualified for HTX between Jan 2003 and Nov 2007. The end points of the study were: death or HTX (UNOS 1), the end of observation: death or HTX. 680 pts were on sinus rhythm (SR) and 192 (22.0%) had atrial fibrillation (AF). During follow up (1-1601days, mean 461 days) 155 pts (17.7%) died, 17.6% with SR and 18.2% with AF (ns). EF - mean 21.6 (SR) and 21.8 (FA), NYHA 3.1 (SR), NTproBNP - mean 3635.4 (SR) and 4349.4 (FA), Arronson - mean 7.8 (SR) and 7.7 (FA). There were no significant differences between groups. We analyzed influence of heart rate (Kaplan-Maier method) on survival. The pts were divided according to HR: gr. I - <70/min, gr. II 71-89/min, gr. III >90/min. The shortest survival rate was noticed in group III. There was no difference in survival between group I and II.
Conclusions: Aatrial fibrillation was not a significant death risk factor among patients waiting for HTX. Heart rate >90/min connects with worse prognosis in patients waiting for HTX.

Keywords: Heart Transplantation