Resistant Hypertension and Atrial Fibrillation: How Important Is the Rhythm?

Abstract

Objectives: Resistant hypertension (RHT) identifies a high-risk population; however, the effect of concomitant atrial fibrillation (AF) in this patient group is understudied. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of heart rhythm (HR) in this population. Materials and Methods: The study was designed as a retrospective, single-center, closed cohort archive screening study in a given time and outpatient data were reviewed. Patients with secondary hypertension, pseudo-RHT and heart failure were eliminated. Consecutive 101 RHT patients were included in the study and divided into two groups according to HR, sinus rhythm (SR) or AF. Baseline demographics were compared, and the correlation between N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), left atrial diameter (LAD) and age were investigated. Results: When comparing RHT patients according to HR, AF patients were older (mean age: 73.5±7.6 vs. 61.7±11.2 years, p