Pre-existing atrial fibrillation and risk of arterial thromboembolism and death following pneumonia: a population-based cohort study

Jacob Gamst, Christian Fynbo Christiansen, Bodil Steen Rasmussen, Lars Hvilsted Rasmussen, Reimar Wernich Thomsen

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effect of pre-existing atrial fibrillation (AF) and associated therapy on the risk of arterial thromboembolism (ATE) and death following pneumonia.

DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Population-based cohort study (1997-2012) of 88 315 patients with first-time hospitalisation with pneumonia in Northern Denmark.

RESULTS: Of the included patients (median age 73.4 years), 8880 (10.1%) had pre-existing AF. The risk of ATE within 30 days of admission was 5.2% in patients with AF and 3.6% in patients without AF. After adjustment for higher age and comorbidity, the adjusted HR (aHR) with AF was 1.06 (95% CI 0.96 to 1.18). Among patients with AF, reduced risk of ATE was observed in vitamin-K antagonist users compared with non-users (aHR 0.74 (95% CI 0.61 to 0.91)). Thirty-day mortality was 20.1% in patients with AF and 13.9% in patients without AF. Corresponding 1-year mortalities were 43.7% and 30.3%. The aHRs for 30-day and 1-year mortality with AF were 1.00 (95% CI 0.94 to 1.05) and 1.01 (95% CI 0.98 to 1.05). In patients with AF, reduced mortality risk was observed in users of vitamin-K antagonists (aHR 0.70 (95% CI 0.63 to 0.77)) and β-blockers (aHR 0.77 (95% CI 0.70 to 0.85). Increased mortality was found in digoxin users (aHR 1.16 (95% CI 1.06 to 1.28)).

CONCLUSIONS: Pre-existing AF is frequent in patients hospitalised with pneumonia and a marker of increased risk of ATE and death, explained by higher patient age and comorbidity. Prognosis is closely related to preadmission medical treatment for AF.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere006486
JournalBMJ Open
Volume4
Issue number11
ISSN2044-6055
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

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