2.2. Patient selection and data collection

The cohort consisted of 137 patients (mean age 61 ± 15; 34.3% women) with a confirmed diagnosis of AF. Patients were classified according to sex and type of AF – (paroxysmal, persistent or permanent fibrillation subgroups). Data relating to cardiovascular risk factors, comorbidities, etiology of AF, drug therapy, previous cardiac surgery, and clinical parameters were collected from hospital discharge documents. The mortality data was obtained from government records. During the follow-up period of our study, 121 patients survived and 16 patients died.