title: Incidence and outcome of atrial fibrillation in stable symptomatic coronary disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the prevalence, incidence and impact on prognosis of existing and new onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with stable, symptomatic coronary artery disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the 7 665 participants included in the ACTION (A Coronary disease Trial Investigating Outcome with Nifedipine GITS) trial was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over a mean follow-up of 4.9 years, the incidence of recurrent AF in patients with AF at baseline (4.1%) was 13.5/100 patient-years and 1.64/100 patient-years for patients without baseline AF. Patients with AF at baseline had increased mortality and new overt heart failure. New onset AF was associated with increased morbidity and mortality and in particular soon after onset. [adjusted 30-day relative risk for mortality 23, 95% CI 14-36; for debilitating stroke 37, 95% CI 18-77; and for heart failure 54, 95% CI 32-93]. The incidence of AF was not affected by treatment with nifedipine GITS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of AF in patients with stable symptomatic CAD is an independent risk factor and in particular in the first 30 days for subsequent mortality and morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Hospital of Vestfold, Toensberg, Norway. jan.erik.otterstad@siv.no
authors.forename: Jan Erik
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Otterstad
authors.forename: Bridget-Anne
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Kirwan
authors.forename: Jacobus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lubsen
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Brouwer
authors.forename: Keith A A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Pernille
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Corell
authors.forename: Philip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Poole-Wilson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D009543:Nifedipine