Glucocorticoid use and risk of atrial fibrillation or flutter: a population-based, case-control study. Archives of internal medicine [Arch Intern Med] Journal article | | Title | Glucocorticoid use and risk of atrial fibrillation or flutter: a population-based, case-control study. | | Author(s) | Christiansen CF, Christensen S, Mehnert F, Cummings SR, Chapurlat RD, Sørensen HT | | Institution | Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Olof Palmes Alle 43-45, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark. cc@dce.au.dk | | Source | Arch Intern Med 2009 Oct 12; 169(18):1677-83. | | MeSH | Asthma
Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial Flutter
Case-Control Studies
Comorbidity
Denmark
Glucocorticoids
Humans
Logistic Models
Odds Ratio
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
| | Abstract | BACKGROUND: Glucocorticoid use is associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure, but data are limited on the risk of atrial fibrillation or flutter. We examined whether glucocorticoid use is associated with the risk of atrial fibrillation or flutter.
METHODS: For this population-based, case-control study, we identified all patients with a first hospital diagnosis of atrial fibrillation or flutter from January 1, 1999, through December 31, 2005, in Northern Denmark (population, 1.7 million). For each case we selected 10 population controls matched by age and sex. We obtained data on glucocorticoid prescriptions within 60 days (current users) or longer before the index date (former users), comorbidity, and medications from medical databases. We used conditional logistic regression to compute odds ratios (ORs), controlling for potential confounders.
RESULTS: Among 20,221 patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter, 1288 (6.4%) were current glucocorticoid users and 2375 (11.7%) were former users. Among 202,130 population controls, 5245 (2.6%) were current glucocorticoid users and 19 940 (9.9%) were former users. Current glucocorticoid use was associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation or flutter compared with never use (adjusted OR, 1.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.79-2.06). Among new glucocorticoid users, the adjusted OR was 3.62 (95% CI, 3.11-4.22) and among long-term users it was 1.66 (95% CI, 1.53-1.80). The increased risk remained robust in patients with and without pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. Former glucocorticoid use was not associated with increased risk (adjusted OR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.96-1.06).
CONCLUSION: Current glucocorticoid use was associated with an almost 2-fold increased risk of atrial fibrillation or flutter. | | Language | eng | | Pub Type(s) | Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
| | PubMed ID | 19822824 |
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