Introduction Coexistence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with heart failure (HF) is a common phenomenon associated with poor prognosis. Therefore, this study was designed with an aim to estimate the different risk factors of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with HF. Methods In this study, patients of either gender, 18 to 80 years of age, and with echocardiographic confirmation of HF presenting at the adult cardiology department of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Karachi, Pakistan were consecutively included. Patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive airway diseases, pneumonia, or pericarditis, and patients diagnosed with existing AF were excluded from the study. Data regarding demographic and clinical risk factors of AF were obtained using a structural proforma. Results Out of 150 patients, 59.3% (89) were females, and the mean age was 50 ± 16 years. A majority of the patients, 55.3% (83), had a history of rheumatic heart diseases (RHD) and 22.7 (34) percent had a history of transient ischemic attack (TIA) or cerebrovascular accident (CVA). On echocardiography, 28.0% (42) of the patients had right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, and the clot was seen in 28.0% (42) of the patients. Mitral stenosis (MS) and mitral regurgitation (MR) were observed in 34.5% (61) and 29.3% (52) of the patients, respectively. Conclusion We observed that the adult population with HF tends to have multiple risk factors of AF. More coordinated efforts are needed by the healthcare professionals to understand and manage these coupled conditions.

A transverse descriptive study was carried out, according to the classification of therapeutic compliance, to evaluate adherence in 250 patients with a diagnosis of Heart Failure, registered with the health department of the municipality of Santiago de Cuba in 2009. The sample characterization was studied, with an assessment of adherence level and possible associated factors for sex, age and toxic habits. As an instrument for the work, data extraction was scheduled and the interview was carried out at patients' homes; the results were expressed in percentage and level of influence for associated factors. This was determined using the chi-square test. In the investigated population, adherence was greater for females, for age group 67-82 years, and toxic habits were found to have prevalence. Prevailing pharmacoterapies were digoxin, chlortalidone, captopril and isosorbide dinitrate, and a high level of adherence was found, both for the pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, in the studied sample. A good level of therapeutic adherence was found for 63.6% of the patients, regular level of adherence was found for 32% and only 4.4% or patients presented with poor adherence. Influencing factors were: knowledge of the treatment, number of medications, frequency of administration, and satisfaction with the service of pharmaceutical care.Uniterms: Treatment adherence. Heart failure/pharmacological treatment. Community pharmacy.Realizou-se estudo descritivo transversal, de acordo com a classificação de adesão à terapêutica, para avaliar a adesão em 250 pacientes com diagnóstico de disfunção cardíaca, registrada no departamento de saúde do município de Santiago de Cuba, em 2009. A caracterização da amostra foi estudada, com a avaliação do nível de adesão e possíveis fatores associado a sexo, idade e hábitos tóxicos. Como instrumento para o trabalho, esquematizou-se aa extração de dados e realizou-se a entrevista nas moradias dos pacientes. Os resultados foram expressos em porcentagem e em nível de influência dos fatores associados, determinados por meio do teste do Q quadrado. Na população sob investigação, a adesão foi maior para as mulheres da faixa etária de 67 a 82 anos, e os hábitos tóxicos foram prevalentes. Na amostra em estudo, as farmacoterapias predominantes foram digoxina, clortalidona, captopril e dinitrato de isossorbida e se observou alto nível de adesão tanto para os tratamentos farmacológicos quanto para os não-farmacológicos. Observou-se alto nível de adesão para 63,6% dos pacientes, nível regular para 32% 3 somente 4,4% dos pacientes apresentaram baixa adesão. Os fatores que influenciaram foram conhecimento a respeito do tratamento, número de medicamentos, frequência de administração e satisfação com o serviço de atenção farmacêutica.Unitermos: Adesão terapêutica. Insuficiência cardíaca/tratamento farmacológico. Farmácia comunitária.