Incidence and Prognosis of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Sepsis

BACKGROUND: Although the mortality rate among patients with sepsis is declining, the incidence of both sepsis and sepsis-related deaths is increasing, likely due to its presence in a growing elderly population. As atrial fibrillation is more common in the elderly, we hypothesize that its presence will be associated with greater mortality among patients with sepsis. METHODS: The Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) database of a large tertiary care medical center was queried for sepsis-related codes and atrial fibrillation. RESULTS: Atrial fibrillation was associated with older age and a higher mortality in this series of patients with sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: Whether atrial fibrillation is a marker of disease severity or contributes to mortality is uncertain. Further studies are necessary to determine optimal management.