Risk factors for incident atrial fibrillation in rheumatoid arthritis patients: A population based cohort study
Main finding · Incident AF, adjusted for age, sex, year, smoking and obesityResult — go to the resultHazard ratio 1.10 95% CI 0.92–1.33Authors' conclusion
Adverse cardiovascular risk profile and RA disease severity significantly increased the risk of AF among patients with RA.
Study context
- Population
- Residents of 8 southern MN counties aged ≥18 years with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (1990–2019) and matched non-RA comparators (mean age 55.9 years, 68.5% female)mean age 55.9 years
- Participants
- 1,899 vs 1,899
- Exposure
- RA vs matched non-RA comparators
- RAn = 1,899
- Non-RAn = 1,899reference
- Outcome
- Incident AF (defined using an electronic algorithm)
Methodological detailspopulation-based, inception cohort, matched on age, sex, year and county
- Population-based
- Inception cohort
- Matched on age, sex, year and county
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Incident AF, adjusted for age, sex, year, smoking and obesity
Hazard ratio
1.10
95% CI 0.92–1.33
RAvs Non-RA
HR 1.10 (95% CI 0.92–1.33)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
10-year cumulative incidence of AF
| Outcome | HR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Incident AF in severe RA (erosions/destructive changes, nodules, or severe extra-articular manifestations in first year)Severe RAvs Non-RA | 1.46 (1.09–1.94) | |
| 0.512Hazard ratio (log scale) |
Risk factors for incident atrial fibrillation (AF) within RA
- Age, HR per 10-year increase
- 2.29 (95% CI 2.05-2.56)
- Male sex, HR
- 1.57 (95% CI 1.22-2.03)
- Former smoking, HR
- 1.35 (95% CI 1.01-1.81)
- Current smoking, HR
- 2.16 (95% CI 1.51-3.09)
- Obesity, HR
- 1.83 (95% CI 1.42-2.37)
- Diabetes, HR
- 1.54 (95% CI 1.09-2.17)
- Hypertension, HR
- 1.60 (95% CI 1.20-2.13)
- Rheumatoid nodules, HR
- 1.77 (95% CI 1.23-2.55)
- Large joint swelling, HR
- 1.32 (95% CI 1.01-1.73)
- Severe extra-articular manifestations, HR
- 1.88 (95% CI 1.17-3.02)
Original publication
Risk factors for incident atrial fibrillation in rheumatoid arthritis patients: A population based cohort study. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Published 7 November 2025. doi:10.
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