Chia-Ching Hsu1, Wu-Chien Chien2,3,4, Jen-Chun Wang1,5, Chi-Hsiang Chung2,3,4, Wen-I Liao1, Wei-Shiang Lin6, Chin-Sheng Lin6, Shih-Hung Tsai7,8. 1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan. 2. Department of Medical Research, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan. 3. School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan. 4. Taiwanese Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Association, Taipei, Taiwan. 5. Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. 6. Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan. 7. Department of Emergency Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwantsaishihung@yahoo.com.tw. 8. Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Graduate Institute of Physiology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwantsaishihung@yahoo.com.tw.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common form of sustained arrhythmia. Several molecular pathways associated with the pathogenesis of AF also participate in the initiation and progression of aortic aneurysm (AA). In this study, we aimed to evaluate potential associations between AA and AF. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The data for this nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study were obtained from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). All medical conditions for each case and the controls were categorized using the 9th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9). Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for associations between AF and AA were estimated using Cox regression and adjusted for comorbidities. RESULTS: Our analyses included 116,225 AF cases and 116,225 propensity score-matched controls. Compared with the controls, the patients with AF exhibited a significantly increased risk of developing an AA (adjusted hazard ratio, HR 1.243, p < 0.001). Another cohort of 19,776 patients diagnosed with AA were identified, and 19,776 propensity score-matched patients were included as controls. Patients who had AA were also at an increased risk of developing AF (adjusted HR 1.187, p < 0.001). Heart failure (HF) was a common risk factor for both AA and AF. CONCLUSION: There are associations between AF and AA. HF is a mutual risk factor for the development of AF and AA.
OBJECTIVE:Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common form of sustained arrhythmia. Several molecular pathways associated with the pathogenesis of AF also participate in the initiation and progression of aortic aneurysm (AA). In this study, we aimed to evaluate potential associations between AA and AF. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The data for this nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study were obtained from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). All medical conditions for each case and the controls were categorized using the 9th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9). Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for associations between AF and AA were estimated using Cox regression and adjusted for comorbidities. RESULTS: Our analyses included 116,225 AF cases and 116,225 propensity score-matched controls. Compared with the controls, the patients with AF exhibited a significantly increased risk of developing an AA (adjusted hazard ratio, HR 1.243, p < 0.001). Another cohort of 19,776 patients diagnosed with AA were identified, and 19,776 propensity score-matched patients were included as controls. Patients who had AA were also at an increased risk of developing AF (adjusted HR 1.187, p < 0.001). Heart failure (HF) was a common risk factor for both AA and AF. CONCLUSION: There are associations between AF and AA. HF is a mutual risk factor for the development of AF and AA.