Cepelis A, et al. - Researchers evaluated the link between asthma, levels of asthma control, and atrial fibrillation (AF). They observed moderately increased risks of AF, in a dose-response manner, in relation to asthma and lack of asthma control.

Methods

• This is a prospective population cohort study where researchers analyzed data on adults from a second and third iteration of the survey-based Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) in Norway.
• They linked HUNT data with hospital records from the two hospitals in Nord-Trøndelag County in order to ascertain atrial fibrillation.
• Data analysis for subjects free from AF at baseline was completed from May 2017 to November 2017.
• Three categories of self-reported asthma were formed: those who had ever had asthma, those who self-report being diagnosed with asthma, and those who had active asthma.
• The definition of asthma control was by Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines and was categorized into controlled, partly controlled, and uncontrolled cases.

Results

• Of 54,567 adults (of whom 28,821 [52.8%] were women), ever having asthma was reported by 5,961 participants (10.9%), 3,934 (7.2%) reported being diagnosed with asthma, and 2,485 (4.6%) reported having active asthma.
• AF was detected in 2,071 participants (3.8%) during a mean (SD) follow-up of 15.4 (5.8) years.
• An estimated 38% higher risk of developing AF (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.38 [95% CI, 1.18-1.61]) was observed among participants with physician-diagnosed asthma vs participants without asthma.
• Findings demonstrated a dose-response link between levels of asthma control and risk of AF with the highest risk for AF in participants with uncontrolled asthma (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.74 [95% CI, 1.26–2.42]; P for trend < .001).