Background

This study aimed to examine the prevalence of atrial tricuspid regurgitation (ATR) and atrial mitral regurgitation (AMR) in the setting of atrial fibrillation (AFib) and identify variables related to the severity of both types of regurgitation.

Methods

Cross-sectional study evaluating data from transthoracic echocardiograms performed during 2019. We included patients with AFib during the examination, and without primary valve disease or other significant heart disease.

Results

Four-hundred and thirty-two patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria (mean age 77.5±9.2 years, 49.1% women). We observed significant ATR in 14.8%, and significant AMR in 1.4% of patients. ATR and AMR severities were equal in 49.3% of patients, and 41% displayed greater ATR severity. ATR prevalence was significantly greater among women (23.1% vs 6.8%, p < 0.001), but AMR prevalence was similar between genders (1.9% vs .9%, p = 0.443). Variables related to greater ATR severity were: female sex (OR: 2.61, 95%CI: 1.60–4.24), left atrial (LA) volume (OR: 3.58, 95%CI: 1.50–8.55), systolic pulmonary artery pressure (OR: 1.10, 95%CI: 1.07–1.13), and moderate AMR (OR: 2.21, 95%CI: 1.22–4.00). Variables related to greater AMR severity were female sex (OR: 1.96, 95%CI: 1.24–3.09), LA volume (OR: 11.68, 95%CI: 5.29–25.80), and body mass index (OR: .94, 95%CI: .90–.98).

Conclusions

In the context of AFib, ATR was more prevalent than AMR and prevailed in women. LA enlargement was associated with higher degrees of both AMR and ATR. Pulmonary hypertension was also independently associated with ATR, as well as greater AMR severity, suggesting possible adaptive changes in leaflets that might modify the atrial regurgitation incidence.