High-normal thyroid function and risk of atrial fibrillation: the Rotterdam study.
BACKGROUND
Overt and subclinical hyperthyroidism are both well-known independent risk factors for atrial fibrillation. We aimed to investigate the association of high-normal thyroid function with the development of atrial fibrillation in a prospective population-based study in the elderly.


METHODS
The association between thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and atrial fibrillation was examined in 1426 subjects with TSH levels in the normal range (0.4-4.0 mU/L) and without atrial fibrillation at baseline. In 1177 of the 1426 persons in this group, we also examined the association between free thyroxine levels within the normal range (0.86-1.94 ng/dL [to convert to picomoles per liter, multiply by 12.871]) and atrial fibrillation. During a median follow-up of 8 years, 105 new cases of atrial fibrillation were identified. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using Cox proportional hazards models after adjustment for age, sex, current smoking, former smoking, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, hypertension, history of myocardial infarction, presence of heart failure, left ventricular hypertrophy on the electrocardiogram, diabetes mellitus, total cholesterol level, and time of the drawing of blood samples.


RESULTS
The risk of atrial fibrillation was associated with the TSH level. The multivariate adjusted HR was 1.94 (95% CI, 1.13-3.34, lowest vs highest quartile; P for trend, .02). The multivariate adjusted level of free thyroxine showed a graded association with risk of atrial fibrillation (HR, 1.62; 95% CI, 0.84-3.14, highest vs lowest quartile; P for trend, .06).


CONCLUSIONS
Within the normal range of thyroid parameters, persons with high-normal thyroid function are at an increased risk of atrial fibrillation.
Heeringa
Jan
J
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Hoogendoorn
E H
EH
van der Deure
W M
WM
Hofman
Albert
A
Peeters
R P
RP
Hop
W C J
WC
den Heijer
M
M
Visser
Theo J
TJ
Witteman
Jacqueline C M
JC
D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine