Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is known to increase the risk of thromboembolic events and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The impact of paroxysmal atrial tachycardia (PAT) on these risks remains unclear. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted involving 889 patients diagnosed with PAT and 1106 control patients without PAT, all of whom underwent their initial 24-hour ECG monitoring between 2015 to 2020. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis were used to evaluate the association between PAT and the study endpoints, including thromboembolic events and MACE. RESULTS: Over a mean follow-up period of 50.3 months, the incidence of thromboembolic events and MACE was significantly higher in the PAT group compared to the control group (6.5% vs 1.7% and 19.1% vs 9.9%, respectively). After adjusting for common risk factors and baseline imbalances, the PAT group exhibited a significantly elevated risk of thromboembolic events (hazard ratio [HR] 3.782, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.212-6.467; P <0.001) and MACE (HR 1.795, 95% CI 1.398-2.305; P <0.001). However, the frequency of PAT episodes, heart rate, and maximum heart rate were not significantly associated with these outcomes. Within the PAT group, a history of stroke, transient ischemic attack, and chronic renal failure were identified as independent risk factors for thromboembolic events, while hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart failure, and chronic renal failure were independently associated with MACE. CONCLUSION: PAT, as detected by 24-hour dynamic ECG, is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolic events and MACE.