@article {758, title = {Inflammation as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation.}, journal = {Circulation}, volume = {108}, year = {2003}, month = {2003 Dec 16}, pages = {3006-10}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: The presence of systemic inflammation determined by elevations in C-reactive protein (CRP) has been associated with persistence of atrial fibrillation (AF). The relationship between CRP and prediction of AF has not been studied in a large population-based cohort.

METHODS AND RESULTS: CRP measurement and cardiovascular assessment were performed at baseline in 5806 subjects enrolled in the Cardiovascular Health Study. Patients were followed up for a mean of 6.9+/-1.6 (median 7.8) years. AF was identified by self-reported history and ECGs at baseline and by ECGs and hospital discharge diagnoses at follow-up. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess CRP as a predictor of baseline and future development of AF. At baseline, 315 subjects (5\%) had AF. Compared with subjects in the first CRP quartile (<0.97 mg/L), subjects in the fourth quartile (>3.41 mg/L) had more AF (7.4\% versus 3.7\%, adjusted OR 1.8, 95\% CI 1.2 to 2.5; P=0.002). Of 5491 subjects without AF at baseline, 897 (16\%) developed AF during follow-up. Baseline CRP predicted higher risk for developing future AF (fourth versus first quartile adjusted hazard ratio 1.31, 95\% CI 1.08 to 1.58; P=0.005). When treated as a continuous variable, elevated CRP predicted increased risk for developing future AF (adjusted hazard ratio for 1-SD increase, 1.24; 95\% CI 1.11 to 1.40; P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: CRP is not only associated with the presence of AF but may also predict patients at increased risk for future development of AF.

}, keywords = {Aged, Atrial Fibrillation, C-Reactive Protein, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Inflammation, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Risk Factors}, issn = {1524-4539}, doi = {10.1161/01.CIR.0000103131.70301.4F}, author = {Aviles, Ronnier J and Martin, David O and Apperson-Hansen, Carolyn and Houghtaling, Penny L and Rautaharju, Pentti and Kronmal, Richard A and Tracy, Russell P and Van Wagoner, David R and Psaty, Bruce M and Lauer, Michael S and Chung, Mina K} }