title: Association of the metabolic syndrome with atrial fibrillation among United States adults (from the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke [REGARDS] Study).
abstract: Metabolic syndrome (MS) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are associated with increased cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. This analysis evaluated the association between MS and AF in the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. MS was defined using criteria recommended in the joint interim statement from several international societies. AF was defined by electrocardiogram (ECG) and/or self-report and by ECG alone. In patients with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 MS components, prevalences of AF by ECG and/or self-report were 5.5%, 7.7%, 8.2%, 9.2%, 9.6%, and 11.5%, respectively (p for trend <0.001). After multivariable adjustment, each MS component except serum triglycerides was significantly associated with AF. The multivariable-adjusted odds ratio for AF, defined by ECG and/or or self-reported history, comparing those with to those without MS was 1.20 (95% confidence interval 1.10 to 1.29). Results were consistent when AF was defined by ECG alone (odds ratio 1.15, 95% confidence interval 0.92 to 1.39). In conclusion, MS is associated with an increased prevalence of AF. Further studies investigating a potential mechanism for this excess risk are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.
authors.forename: Rikki M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.forename: Usman
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Baber
authors.forename: April P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Carson
authors.forename: Jenifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Voeks
authors.forename: Todd M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Elsayed Z
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Soliman
authors.forename: Virginia J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muntner
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D044383:Black People; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055105:Waist Circumference; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL