Atrial Fibrillation in Older Patients with Syncope and Dementia: Insights from the Syncope and Dementia Registry.

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the clinical characteristics and the long-term outcome of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with dementia and history of syncope or falls. Design Observational: analysis of a prospective registry. Setting and Participants Between 2012 and 2016, the Syncope and Dementia Registry enrolled patients in 12 geriatric departments. Follow-up evaluation was at 12 months. Measures Clinical, functional, and cognitive assessment. Results Of the 522 patients (women, 62.1%; Mini-Mental State Examination 17 ± 6), 26.4% have or presented an AF history. Patients with AF were older (85 ± 6 vs 83 ± 6 years, P = .012), with higher heart rate (78 ± 17 vs. 73 ± 14 bpm, P  Conclusions and Implications AF and postural stability-related issues often co-exist in persons with dementia. This complex of conditions is associated with an intricate clinical picture, underprescription of oral anticoagulants, and high long-term mortality. Future studies are needed to evaluate the effects of therapy optimization in this population.