Risk of incident atrial fibrillation in gout: a cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia associated with cardiovascular disease and mortality. Recent studies suggest an association between inflammation, hyperuricaemia and AF, but little is known whether gout is associated with AF risk.

Methods

Using data from a US commercial insurance plan (2004-2013), we conducted a cohort study to evaluate the risk of incident AF in patients with gout versus osteoarthritis. Patients with gout or osteoarthritis were identified with ≥2 diagnoses and ≥1 dispensing for gout or osteoarthritis medications. Incident AF was defined as a new AF diagnosis and a new dispensing for anticoagulants or antiarrhythmics. The risk of incident AF in gout was also compared with the non-gout group.

Results

We identified 70 015

SUBMITTER: Kim SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4775439 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature