Although atrial fibrillation (AF) is well known to be associated with an increase in the risk of stroke and coronary heart disease, a similar association with sudden cardiac death (SCD) has been suspected but not demonstrated in the past. Now a new study examing data from two large population studies offers evidence that AF is also an independent risk factor for SCD.
In a paper published in JAMA Internal Medicine (formerly Archives of Internal Medicine), Lin Chen and colleagues analyzed data from from 15,439 participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study and 5,479 participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS). The analysis shows that AF patients were at significantly elevated risk for SCD.
SOURCE: Forbes