Distribution of different characteristics among atrial filbrillation (AF) cases and controls: relative risk (RR) of developing AF, fully adjusted
| AF cases (%), n = 55 412 | Controls (%), n = 216 400 | Adjusted RR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| COPD | 3334 (6.0) | 8488 (3.9) | 1.05 (0.94 to 1.18) |
| Cerebrovascular accident | 7070 (12.8) | 17 217 (8.0) | 1.48 (1.32 to 1.66) |
| Diabetes | 5636 (10.2) | 18 427 (8.5) | 0.86 (0.77 to 0.96) |
| Heart failure | 10 077 (18.2) | 12 294 (5.7) | 2.91 (2.59 to 3.27) |
| Hyperthyroidism | 1189 (2.1) | 2717 (1.3) | 1.56 (1.39 to 1.75) |
| Ischaemic heart disease | 14 993 (27.1) | 34 610 (16.0) | 2.00 (1.78 to 2.24) |
| No hypertensiona | 18 252 (32.9) | 117 031 (54.1) | 0.40 (0.36 to 0.45) |
| Bisphosphonatesb | |||
| Not used | 52 980 (95.6) | 208 277 (96.2) | 1 |
| Past | 629 (1.1) | 2119 (1.0) | 0.99 (0.88 to 1.11) |
| Recent | 411 (0.7) | 1226 (0.6) | 1.08 (0.96 to 1.21) |
| Current | 1392 (2.5) | 4778 (2.2) | 0.95 (0.85 to 1.07) |
| Oral glucocorticoidsb | |||
| Not used | 45 908 (82.8) | 189 404 (87.5) | 1 |
| Past | 4410 (8.0) | 15 226 (7.0) | 0.95 (0.85 to 1.07) |
| Recent | 1509 (2.7) | 4656 (2.2) | 0.99 (0.88 to 1.11) |
| Current | 3585 (6.5) | 7114 (3.3) | 1.62 (1.44 to 1.82) |
| Statinsb | |||
| Not used | 47 100 (85.0) | 191 919 (88.7) | 1 |
| Past | 571 (1.0) | 1943 (0.9) | 0.84 (0.75 to 0.94) |
| Recent | 597 (1.1) | 1629 (0.8) | 0.94 (0.84 to 1.05) |
| Current | 7144 (12.9) | 20 909 (9.7) | 0.82 (0.73 to 0.92) |
| Xanthine derivateb | |||
| Not used | 52 729 (95.2) | 209 074 (96.6) | 1 |
| Past | 1409 (2.5) | 4430 (2.0) | 0.87 (0.78 to 0.98) |
| Recent | 273 (0.5) | 662 (0.3) | 1.04 (0.93 to 1.17) |
| Current | 1001 (1.8) | 2234 (1.0) | 1.09 (0.97 to 1.22) |
| Beta-2 agonistsb | |||
| Not used | 42 482 (76.7) | 179 440 (82.9) | 1 |
| Past | 4090 (7.4) | 13 820 (6.4) | 1.07 (0.95 to 1.20) |
| Recent | 1873 (3.4) | 6002 (2.8) | 1.06 (0.94 to 1.19) |
| Current | 6967 (12.6) | 17 138 (7.9) | 1.30 (1.16 to 1.46) |
| Drugs affecting the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone systemb | |||
| Not used | 39 412 (71.1) | 178 435 (82.5) | 1 |
| Past | 2196 (4.0) | 6525 (3.0) | 0.92 (0.82 to 1.03) |
| Recent | 1121 (2.0) | 2609 (1.2) | 0.97 (0.86 to 1.09) |
| Current | 12 683 (22.9) | 28 831 (13.3) | 1.04 (0.93 to 1.17) |
| Alcohol consumption | |||
| No | 7207 (13.0) | 28 290 (13.1) | 1 |
| Ex-drinker | 2384 (4.3) | 7917 (3.7) | 1.11 (0.99 to 1.25) |
| Yes | 32 320 (58.3) | 115 837 (53.5) | 1.15 (1.02 to 1.29) |
| Unknown | 13 501 (24.4) | 64 356 (29.7) | 1.11 (0.99 to 1.25) |
| Heavy drinker | 1409 (2.5) | 3586 (1.7) | 1.43 (1.27 to 1.60) |
| Smoking | |||
| No | 26 381 (47.6) | 97 930 (45.3) | 1 |
| Ex-smoker | 13596 (24.5) | 43 821 (20.3) | 1.02 (0.91 to 1.14) |
| Yes | 7354 (13.3) | 30 845 (14.3) | 0.89 (0.79 to 1.00) |
| Unknown | 8081 (14.6) | 43 804 (20.2) | 0.80 (0.71 to 0.90) |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | |||
| 10–19 | 2995 (5.4) | 10 855 (5.0) | 1.14 (1.09 to 1.19) |
| 20–24 | 14 578 (26.3) | 59 568 (27.5) | 1 |
| 25–29 | 16 750 (30.2) | 63 334 (29.3) | 1.02 (0.91 to 1.14) |
| ≥30 | 10 025 (18.1) | 27 347 (12.6) | 1.29 (1.15 to 1.45) |
| Unknown | 11 064 (20.0) | 55 296 (25.6) | 0.86 (0.77 to 0.96) |
COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
↵a ‘No hypertension’ is defined as systolic blood pressure (BP) below 140/90 mmHg, and excludes those with unknown or equivocal BPs. For patients with high BP measurements, a minimum of two above-normal BP measurements within 6 months of each other were required and these values were averaged (hence the possibility of the category ‘equivocal’). For those with normal BP measurements, only a single measurement was required. In the case of no recent record of BP measurement, BP was included as a missing value into the logistic regression analysis.
↵b Prior use of medication was classified as current, recent, or past (current use of drugs defined as prescribing in the 3 months before the index date, recent 3–12 months prior, and past use more than 12 months ago).