The Predictive Value of Inflammatory Indices and CHA2DS2-VASc Score for NOAF in Covid-19 Patients and the Effect of NOAF on In-Hospital Outcomes

INTRODUCTION: It has been reported that atrial fibrillation (AF) is frequently observed in patients with severe COVID-19. Various mechanisms may be involved in the pathogenesis of AF in these patients. COVID-19 infection increases susceptibility to atrial AF acutely during the infectious stages and sometimes in the post-convalescence period.
METHODS: The current retrospective multicenter review consists of consecutive patients hospitalized for COVID-19-related infection in 3 different medical centers. Patients hospitalized for COVID-19 infection between September 2021 and February 2022 were studied.
RESULTS: The incidence of New-onset AF (NOAF) was 7.8%. N/L ratios on days 1, 3, and 7 were significantly higher in the NOAF group. In-hospital all-cause mortality, embolic events, and major bleeding were significantly higher in the NOAF group. Hospital stay was significantly longer in the NOAF group.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: CHA2DS2VASc score, D-Dimer, and N/L ratio are independent predictors of NOAF in COVID-19 patients. NOAF is associated with worse clinical features during hospitalization in terms of more bleeding events, death, and embolic events. NOAF is also associated with a longer hospital stay.