Management and prognosis of atrial fibrillation in diabetic patients: an EORP-AF General Pilot Registry report

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most important cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical correlates of DM, including management and outcomes, in the EURObservational Research Programme (EORP)-Atrial Fibrillation (AF) General Pilot (EORP-AF) Registry of the European Society of Cardiology.

We studied consecutive patients (N = 3101) enrolled in 70 centres of nine European countries between February 2012 and March 2013, and compared diabetics with non-diabetics during a 1-year follow-up. In the overall cohort, the prevalence of DM was 20.6%. Diabetics were older (71 ± 9 vs. 68 ± 12 years, P < 0.0001) and had more comorbidities, higher CHA₂DS₂-VASc score (4.6 ± 1.6 vs. 2.9 ± 1.7, P < 0.0001) and higher prevalence of permanent AF (21.5 vs. 16.0%, P = 0.0022). Quality of life amongst DM patients was significantly worse [atrial fibrillation quality of life questionnaire (AF-QoL) score 45.2 ± 19.2 vs. 49.3 ± 20.1, P < 0.0001]. Amongst diabetics, the use of electrical cardioversion (16.2 vs. 24.6%, P < 0.0001) and catheter ablation (3.3 vs. 8.6%, P < 0.0001) was lower, whilst oral anticoagulants were more often prescribed (84.3 vs. 78.9%, P = 0.0027). After one year, diabetic patients had significantly higher all-cause (11.9 vs. 4.9%, P < 0.0001), cardiovascular (6.2 vs. 1.9%, P < 0.0001), and non-cardiovascular mortality (2.3 vs. 1.1%, P = 0.0356).

In AF patients, DM is associated with a higher prevalence of comorbidities and a worse quality of life. After one year, all-cause, cardiovascular, and non-cardiovascular mortality were significantly higher in diabetic subjects.