Background The epidemiologic features and outcomes of chronic heart failure(CHF) patients with atrial fibrillation(AF) remain not clear in China.We aim to evaluate the epidemiologic features and outcomes of CHF patients with AF,compared by those CHF patients with sinus rhythm(SR),which is still not clear in China.Methods From January 2005 to December 2008,1161 patients were admitted to the PLA general hospitals and First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College with a discharge diagnosis of CHF were enrolled in the study.The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of AF.The main outcomes were defined as death within one year and readmission to the hospital for heart failure.Results The rate of CHF patients with AF was 36 %.During 1 year follow-up,the overall main outcomes was higher in AF patients than in those with SR(P = 0.02).After adjusting for other covariables,including age,gender,left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),NYHA classification,et al,AF was no longer related to increased the risk of main outcomes during 1 year follow-up(RR:1.052,CI:0.938 ± 1.165,P = 0.629).A Cox model showed that risk of main outcomes were associated with NYHA Ⅳ(P < 0.001),age(P = 0.022),left atrial dimension(P = 0.020).Conclusion The generally observed higher adverse outcome during 1-year follow-up in patients with AF thus seems to be related to other factors,such as NYHA Ⅳ,age,left atrial dimension,but not AF. Background The epidemiologic features and outcomes of chronic heart failure (CHF) patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) remain not clear in China. We aim to evaluate the epidemiologic features and outcomes of CHF patients with AF, compared by those CHF patients with sinus rhythm ( SR), which is still not clear in China. Methods From January 2005 to December 2008,1161 patients were admitted to the PLA general hospitals and First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College with a discharge diagnosis of CHF were enrolled in the study. patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of AF. The main outcomes were defined as death within one year and readmission to the hospital for heart failure. Results The rate of CHF patients with AF was 36% .During 1 year follow -up, the overall main outcomes was higher in AF patients than in those with SR (P = 0.02) .After adjusting for other covariables, including age, gender, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), NYHA cl Assification, et al, AF was no longer related to increased risk the main outcomes during 1 year follow-up (RR: 1.052, CI: 0.938 ± 1.165, P = 0.629) with NYHA IV (P <0.001), age (P = 0.022), left atrial dimension (P = 0.020) .Conclusion The generally observed higher adverse outcome during 1-year follow-up in patients with AF thus seems to be related to other Factors, such as NYHA Ⅳ, age, left atrial dimension, but not AF.