Clinical Characteristics and Hospital Case Distribution of Atrial Fibrillation at the National Cardiac Center, Benghazi, Libya: A Retrospective Study

Muna Solyman; Zaki Bettamar; Tareq Lehmidi; Abdualwahab Bingmeia; Bushra Khalid; Kandah Abridah; Abeer Amer

doi:10.54361/ajmas.269930

Authors

Muna Solyman Department of Molecular Diagnostics, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9622-6300
Zaki Bettamar Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3688-4368
Tareq Lehmidi Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya. Histology Department, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Hesepredes University, Benghazi, Libya https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0787-5581
Abdualwahab Bingmeia Basic Medical Science Program, Libyan International University, Benghazi, Libya https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7911-6371
Bushra Khalid Basic Medical Science Program, Libyan International University, Benghazi, Libya https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2809-3610
Kandah Abridah Basic Medical Science Program, Libyan International University, Benghazi, Libya https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6383-2846
Abeer Amer Histology Department, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Hesepredes University, Benghazi, Libya. Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6174-2858

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54361/ajmas.269930

Keywords:

Hospital Case, Atrial Fibrillation, National Cardiac Center, Benghazi, Libya

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia and a major contributor to stroke and heart failure. Data on AF from Libya remain limited. To describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of AF patients diagnosed at the National Cardiac Center of Benghazi between 2022 and 2024. Retrospective descriptive review of records of 467 patients diagnosed with AF at a single tertiary cardiac center. Data on age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, myocardial infarction, heart failure, smoking, and hypothyroidism were extracted and analysed descriptively; sex-based differences were assessed using chi-square/Fisher's exact tests. Mean age at diagnosis was 63.5 ± 13.0 years, with the highest proportion (30.0%) aged 60–68 years. Of 467 patients, 51.8% were female, and 48.2% were male. Hypertension (62.1%), diabetes (45.0%), and hypothyroidism (13.1%) were common, and each differed significantly by sex (all p<0.05, higher in females). Myocardial infarction (5.1%) and heart failure (16.3%) showed no significant sex difference. Diagnoses peaked in July–August and were lowest in November. AF cases at this center were concentrated among older adults, with a nearly balanced sex distribution and significant sex differences in several comorbidities. These findings provide descriptive baseline data on AF from a Libyan tertiary center; findings should not be interpreted as population prevalence or as evidence of causal risk factors given the retrospective, single-center, uncontrolled design.