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It has been observed that patients with idiopathic atrial fibrillation have a reasonably good short- to mid-term prognosis. However, very long follow-up studies (longer than 15 to 20 years) are lacking, and concern persists that such patients may develop structural heart disease or have a poorer prognosis over a longer period of time. In a recent study from the Mayo Clinic, researchers analyzed follow-up data from 76 patients diagnosed with idiopathic AF between 1950 and 1980.
Five patients had chronic AF at diagnosis. Of the 71 others, 22 had progression to chronic AF: a 29% 30-year cumulative probability of progression. Older age at presentation was the only independent predictor of progression to chronic AF. Overall survival of the cohort…