How Does Atrial Fibrillation Affect Cardiovascular and Renal Disease?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease, renal disease, and death, according to a new meta-analysis.

To investigate the association, the researchers analyzed 104 cohort studies that included 9,686,513 participants—587,867 of whom had AF.
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The researchers examined the risk of outcomes relating to AF, including all-cause mortality, CV mortality, and major CV events.

After performing a meta-analysis, the researchers found that AF was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality, CV mortality, major CV events, stroke, ischemic stroke, ischemic heart disease, sudden cardiac death, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and peripheral arterial disease. AF was not associated with hemorrhagic stroke.

Of the outcomes analyzed, the highest absolute risk increase was for heart failure.

“Atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk of death and an increased risk of cardiovascular and renal disease,” the researchers concluded. “Interventions aimed at reducing outcomes beyond stroke are warranted in patients with atrial fibrillation.”

—Amanda Balbi

Reference:

Odutayo A, Wong CX, Hsiao AJ, Hopewell S, Altman DG, Emdin CA. Atrial fibrillation and risks of cardiovascular disease, renal disease, and death: systematic review and meta-analysis [published online September 6, 2016]. BMJ. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i4482.