Atrial fibrillation in patients receiving continuous hemodialysis

Abstract

Objective: To describe the prevalence of atrial fibrillation, the epidemiological profile and the treatment used in patients undergoing continuous hemodialysis. Method: Quantitative cross-sectional study conducted in 2017 with 110 patients admitted to an intensive care center of a large private hospital in Porto Alegre. Results: The study found 36 (32.7%) episodes of atrial fibrillation during hemodialysis. Most patients were white males: 25 (69.4%) with a mean age of 75.2 ± 10. Also, 22 (61.1%) experienced their first episode of atrial fibrillation. Systemic arterial hypertension and obesity were the most prevalent comorbidities. There was evidence of chemical cardioversion in 30 patients and electrical cardioversion in six patients. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of atrial fibrillation in patients receiving continuous hemodialysis. Thus, health professionals must have specific skills for the identification and management of heart disorders and accurate and complete records about the events.