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. 2025 Mar 4;14(5):e034514.
doi: 10.1161/JAHA.123.034514. Epub 2025 Feb 26.

Multimorbidity Is Associated With Symptom Severity and Disease Progression in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation-Data From the RACE V Study

Colinda van Deutekom  1 , Martijn E van de Lande  1 , Rajiv Rama  1 , Bao-Oanh Nguyen  1 , Robert G Tieleman  2 , Vanessa Weberndörfer  3   4 , Martin E W Hemels  5 , Mirko de Melis  6 , Ulrich Schotten  4   7 , Dominik Linz  3   4 , Harry J G M Crijns  3   4 , Isabelle C van Gelder  1 , Michiel Rienstra  1 ; RACE V Investigators
Affiliations

Multimorbidity Is Associated With Symptom Severity and Disease Progression in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation-Data From the RACE V Study

Colinda van Deutekom et al. J Am Heart Assoc. .

Abstract

Background: Multimorbidity is common among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and is associated with worse outcomes. We aimed to investigate the association between multimorbidity, AF progression and AF symptom severity in patients with paroxysmal AF.

Methods and results: The RACE V (Reappraisal of AF: Interaction Between Hypercoagulability, Electrical Remodeling, and Vascular Destabilization in the Progression of AF) study included patients with paroxysmal AF and continuous rhythm monitoring. Multimorbidity was defined as ≥2 comorbidities (heart failure, hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, kidney dysfunction, moderate or severe mitral valve regurgitation, or obesity). AF symptom severity was assessed via the University of Toronto AF Severity Scale questionnaire. The associations between multimorbidity, AF progression, and AF symptom severity were determined using logistic regression analyses. Median age was 65 (58-71) years and 179 of 417 patients (43%) were women, with a median of 1 (1-2) comorbidities. Median follow-up was 2.2 (1.6-2.8) years. Multimorbidity was associated with AF progression (odds ratio [OR], 2.02 [95% CI, 1.10-3.72], P=0.024) and increased AF symptom severity (OR, 2.67 [95% CI, 1.79-3.99], P<0.001). There was a positive dose-response relation between the number of comorbidities and AF progression (OR, 1.40 [95% CI, 1.09-1.79], P=0.008), as well as AF symptom severity (OR, 1.64 [95% CI, 1.35-1.99], P<0.001). These results remained significant after adjusting for age.

Conclusions: In patients with paroxysmal AF, multimorbidity was associated with AF progression and AF symptom severity. The risk of AF progression and AF symptom severity increased with every additional comorbidity.

Registration: URL: clinicaltrials.gov. Unique Identifier: NCT02726698.

Keywords: atrial fibrillation; comorbidities; multimorbidity; progression; symptom severity.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Number of comorbidities in population.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Multimorbidity and AF progression.
AF indicates atrial fibrillation.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Number of comorbidities and AF progression.
AF indicates atrial fibrillation.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Multimorbidity and AF symptom severity.
AFSS indicates University of Toronto Atrial Fibrillation Severity Scale.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Number of comorbidities and AF symptom severity.
The circles represent the median University of Toronto AFSS score, categorized by the number of comorbidities. The bars indicate the interquartile range. The line represents the trend line through the data points. AFSS indicates University of Toronto Atrial Fibrillation Severity Scale.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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