886 Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation in Burn Patients: A 6-Month Post-Burn Evaluation

TL;DR

Burn patients with new-onset atrial fibrillation face higher risks of heart failure and mortality, highlighting the need for better monitoring and treatment.

Contribution

This study identifies a significant association between new-onset atrial fibrillation and increased heart failure and mortality risks in burn patients.

Findings

New-onset atrial fibrillation occurs in about 3% of burn patients.

Atrial fibrillation in burn patients is linked to a 9.247% mortality rate and 40.197% heart failure rate.

Propensity-matched analysis shows atrial fibrillation increases heart failure risk by 3.712 times.

Abstract

Burns trigger complex physiological responses including inflammation and sympathetic activation, elevating the risk of cardiovascular complications. Atrial fibrillation is a common event in burn centers which can have ramifications on cardiac complications including death. We wondered whether new-onset atrial fibrillation has a significant relationship with diagnosis of heart failure in burned patients.

De-identified electronic patient data were obtained from a large research network. The study population consisted of 13,187adult (>18 years) burned patients in the United States presenting with atrial fibrillation 6 months after injury; controls included 520,898 burned patients without atrial fibrillation.

About 3% of burn patients were diagnosed with new-onset atrial fibrillation. This population was 58% male and 70% Caucasian, with a mean age of 72±13 years.The mean heart rate post onset of atrial fibrillation was 79.4±19.4 bpm, while in those without atrial fibrillation it was 80.6±16 bpm. TBSA burned was similar in both groups. After propensity-matched with age, gender, race, ethnicity and burn severity of TBSA, we found that the atrial fibrillation group had a 9.247% in mortality and a 40.197% in heart failure (p< 0.05). The risk ratio for mortality for new-onset atrial fibrillation was 1.811, and for heart failure, 3.712 after propensity matching for age, gender, ethnicity, and %TBSA burned.

Atrial fibrillation in burn patients is associated with significantly worse outcomes, including higher mortality and a dramatic increase in heart failure risk.

Prevention and management of atrial fibrillation in burn patients is highlighted. Routine cardiovascular monitoring and targeted interventions are indicated.

Database funding by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences