Tomoko Yoshikawa1,2,3, Jun Hata1,4,5, Satoko Sakata1,4,5, Takuya Nagata1,2, Yoichiro Hirakawa1,5, Yoshitaka Hirooka6, Hiroyuki Tsutsui2, Takanari Kitazono4,5, Toshiharu Ninomiya1,4. 1. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University. 2. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University. 3. Sleep Apnea Center, Kyushu University Hospital. 4. Center for Cohort Studies, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University. 5. Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University. 6. International University of Health and Welfare.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia in the elderly, and causes complications such as cardioembolic stroke. Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation, has been reported to be a risk factor for developing AF in Western countries. However, few community-based studies have examined this issue in general Asian populations.Methods and Results: A total of 2,510 community-dwelling Japanese participants aged ≥40 years without a history of AF were divided into 4 groups according to the sex-specific quartiles of serum hs-CRP concentrations (Q1, lowest and Q4, highest) and followed up for 24 years. The hazard ratios and their 95% confidence intervals for the development of AF were estimated using a Cox proportional hazards model. During the follow up, 234 subjects developed AF. The risk of AF increased significantly with elevating serum hs-CRP levels after adjustment for potential confounding factors (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval], Q1, 1.00 [reference]; Q2, 1.26 [0.83-1.92]; Q3, 1.77 [1.18-2.66]; and Q4, 1.89 [1.24-2.86]; P for trend <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The study findings suggest that elevated serum hs-CRP levels are an independent risk factor for the development of AF in a general Japanese population.
BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia in the elderly, and causes complications such as cardioembolic stroke. Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation, has been reported to be a risk factor for developing AF in Western countries. However, few community-based studies have examined this issue in general Asian populations.Methods and Results: A total of 2,510 community-dwelling Japanese participants aged ≥40 years without a history of AF were divided into 4 groups according to the sex-specific quartiles of serum hs-CRP concentrations (Q1, lowest and Q4, highest) and followed up for 24 years. The hazard ratios and their 95% confidence intervals for the development of AF were estimated using a Cox proportional hazards model. During the follow up, 234 subjects developed AF. The risk of AF increased significantly with elevating serum hs-CRP levels after adjustment for potential confounding factors (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval], Q1, 1.00 [reference]; Q2, 1.26 [0.83-1.92]; Q3, 1.77 [1.18-2.66]; and Q4, 1.89 [1.24-2.86]; P for trend <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The study findings suggest that elevated serum hs-CRP levels are an independent risk factor for the development of AF in a general Japanese population.
Entities:
Keywords:
Atrial fibrillation; Biomarker; Cohort study; High-sensitivity C-reactive protein