RENAL DISEASE INCREASES AF

Researchers led by Dr Alvaro Alonso (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis) assessed kidney function in 10,328 subjects without AF from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study, following up 788 incident cases of AF over a ten-year period.

The study found that impaired kidney function, measured by a lower estimated cystatin C–based glomerular filtration rate, considerably increased risk of developing AF (p<0.0001).  Risk was three times greater with increased levels of  kidney damage, measured by the presence of macroalbuminuria.

The authors write that, although “existing studies have reported inconsistent results” as to the connection between kidney dysfunction and incidence of AF, the findings of their large-scale study show a strong association, independent of other risk factors.  They advise that “interventions aimed at preventing and treating chronic kidney disease could also contribute to reduce the burden of atrial fibrillation in the population”.

References

1 Alonso A, Lopez FL, Matsushita K, et al. Chronic kidney disease is associated with the incidence of atrial fibrillation. Circulation 2011;DOI:10.1161/circulationaha.111.020982.