Usual blood pressure, atrial fibrillation and vascular risk: evidence from 4.3 million adults.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although elevated blood pressure is associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), it is unclear if this association varies by individual characteristics. Furthermore, the associations between AF and a range of different vascular events are yet to be reliably quantified.

Methods

Using linked electronic health records, we examined the time to first diagnosis of AF and time to first diagnosis of nine vascular events in a cohort of 4.3 million adults, aged 30 to 90 years, in the UK.

Results

: A 20-mmHg higher usual systolic blood pressure was associated with a higher risk of AF [hazard ratio (HR) 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19, 1.22]. The strength of the association declined with increasing age, from an HR of 1.91 (CI 1.75, 2.09) at ag

SUBMITTER: Emdin CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5407172 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature