Asthma and uncontrolled asthma are associated with a 38 percent increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), according to new research published in JAMA Cardiology.
“Asthma, a chronic inflammatory airway disease, and atrial fibrillation [AFib] share several common pathophysiological mechanisms,” wrote first author Aivaras Cepelis, MSci, of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, and colleagues. “Research on the association between asthma and atrial fibrillation is lacking, and to our knowledge, no previous studies have assessed the dose-response association between levels of asthma control and [AFib]."
Cepelis and colleagues reviewed and analyzed data of more than 54,000 individuals in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT). They found:
- 5,961 study subjects who reported ever having asthma.
- 3,934 participants reported being diagnosed with asthma.
- 2,485 participants reported having active asthma.
After a 15-year follow-up, the researchers reported 2,071 study subjects had developed AFib.
Participants with physician-diagnosed asthma had a 38 percent increased risk of developing AFib.
They also found a dose-response association between levels of asthma control and risk of AFib—the highest risk of AFib was in participants with uncontrolled asthma. The researchers found participants with uncontrolled asthma, at baseline, had a 74 percent increased risk of developing AFib, compared to patients with no asthma.
The researchers also noted stronger associations of asthma and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in individuals taking medication or having reoccurring asthma symptoms.
More than 90 percent of participants who currently use asthma medications still reported experiencing multiple asthma symptoms. The researchers noted it’s likely that participants without asthma medication use have passive asthma, which was diagnosed earlier, and their symptoms are under control without the need of medication.
The researchers said more in-depth studies looking at asthma symptoms and medication use, including frequency and dosage, with serial follow-up methods, are needed.
“Given the high prevalence of asthma, clinicians should be aware of this connection and closely examine AFib risk factors in this patient group,” Cepelis et al. wrote. “Further investigation is warranted into the underlying mechanisms of this association, including asthma medication use and inflammation, to clarify the causal pathways between asthma, asthma control and AFib."
As a senior news writer for TriMed, Subrata covers cardiology, clinical innovation and healthcare business. She has a master’s degree in communication management and 12 years of experience in journalism and public relations.