Abstract: 【Abstract】Objective Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia in hemodialysis patients and its prevalence is higher in hemodialysis patients than in general population. Cross-sectional and cohort studies reported that the prevalence of AF in hemodialysis patients was between 2.8% and 27%. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of AF, its related risk factors and treatment in patients in the two hemodialysis centers of our hospital. Methods A total of 305 patients with long-term hemodialysis were recruited in the two hemodialysis centers of our hospital. They accepted electrocardiogram (ECG) examination. We collected their medical information including demographic data, clinical diagnosis, comorbidity, smoking and drinking history. Atrial fibrillation was determined by ECG or previous diagnostic history. We then calculated the prevalence of AF and compared the differences between the groups with AF and without AF. The factors associated with AF were analyzed by logistic regression. CHA2DS2-VASc score was used for patients with AF. Results The overall prevalence of AF was 9.8%, in which 73.3% were paroxysmal AF and 26.7% were persistent AF. The prevalence of AF was 9.0% in the hemodialysis center in emergency department and 11.7% in the Third Inpatient Department of our hospital. There are differences in age, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction and vascular disease between patients with AF and without AF. The prevalence of AF increased with age. In AF patients, 6.7% patients were younger than 55 years old, 23.3% were between 55～64 years old, 26.7% aged between 65～74 years old, and 43.3% aged ≥75 years old. Multivariate analyses showed that AF was independently associated with age (odds ratio: 1.042 per year increase, 95% CI: 1.006～1.078, P= 0.020) and vascular diseases (OR=3.854, 95% CI 1.358～10.942, P=0.011). Thirteen AF patients accepted anticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy and the treatment rate was 43.3%. Conclusions The prevalence of AF was associated with older age and vascular diseases. The rate of standard anticoagulant therapy was lower in this cohort of patients.

Key words: Atrial fibrillation, Electrocardiogram, Arrhythmia, End-stage renal disease