Risk markers and incidence of atrial fibrillation in northern Sweden

• Main Author: Johansson, Cecilia
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: UmeÃ¥ universitet, Institutionen för folkhälsa och klinisk medicin 2023
• Subjects: Atrial fibrillation; atrial flutter; incidence; provoking factors; types of atiral fibrillation; stroke risk; alcohol consumption; problem drinking; weight; height; weight change; normal blood pressure; high normal blood pressure; Förmaksflimmer; förmaksfladder; incidens; provocerande faktorer; typer av förmaksflimmer; strokerisk; alkoholkonsumtion; alkoholproblem; vikt; längd; viktförändring; normalt blodtryck; högt normalt blodtryck; Other Clinical Medicine; Annan klinisk medicin; Norra Sverige; Northern Sweden
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-207051

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common clinically significant arrythmia with a prevalence of approximately 3% in the general population. Less is known about the incidence of AF. In order to reduce the incidence of AF, it is of essence to identify modifiable risk factors for the disease. Aims: The aims of this thesis were (1) to estimate the incidence of AF and to assess the prevalence of provoking factors and risk factors for stroke and systemic embolism at the time of AF diagnosis, (2) to study the association between alcohol consumption and risk of AF, (3) to study the association between weight, height, weight change, and risk of AF, and (4) to study the association between normal or high normal blood pressure (BP), compared to optimal BP, and risk of AF. Methods: To determine the incidence of AF and the prevalence of provoking factors and risk factors for stroke and systemic embolism at AF diagnosis, an observational study was performed between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2012, in the municipalities of Skellefteå and Norsjö, Västerbotten, Sweden. Diagnosis registries were searched for cases of incident AF. All AF diagnoses were verified by electrocardiogram. Data regarding provoking factors, type of AF and presence of risk factors for stroke and systemic embolism (as assessed by the CHA2DS2-VASc score) was obtained from medical records. Incidence was calculated by dividing the number of incident AF cases by the time at risk for the population. The association between alcohol consumption, weight, height, weight change, normal BP, high normal BP, and risk of AF was investigated in a population-based cohort study of participants of the Västerbotten Intervention Programme (VIP). Residents of Västerbotten County aged 30, 40, 50 and 60 years who had participated in the VIP health examinations between January 1, 1988, and September 5, 2014, were included. Individuals who had been diagnosed with AF before participating in the VIP were excluded. Study participants were followed until a ...