Asthma and AF Risk: What’s the Connection?

A lack of asthma control is associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), according to the results of a recent study.

Several pathophysiological mechanisms are shared between asthma and AF, but research on the association between the 2 conditions is lacking.

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For their study, the researchers gathered data from a population cohort of adults from a second and third iteration of the survey-based Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) in Norway who were free from AF at baseline.

The researchers categorized self-reported asthma into 3 groups: those who had ever had asthma, those who self-reported being diagnosed with asthma, and those who had active asthma. Asthma control was defined using the Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines (controlled, partly controlled, uncontrolled).

Of the 54,567 adults included in the study, 5961 participants (10.9%) reported ever having asthma, 3934 participants (7.2%) reported being diagnosed with asthma, and 2485 participants (4.6%) reported having active asthma.

During a mean follow-up of 15.4 years, 2071 participants (3.8%) developed AF. The risk of developing AF was 38% higher in participants with physician-diagnosed asthma compared with participants without asthma, and there was a dose-response association between levels of asthma control and risk of AF.

“Asthma and lack of asthma control were associated with moderately increased risks of AF in a dose-response manner. Further studies are needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and clarify causal pathways between asthma and AF,” the researchers concluded.

Reference:

Cepelis A, Brumptom BM, Malmo V, et al. Associations of asthma and asthma control with atrial fibrillation risk [published online July 11, 2018]. JAMA Cardiol. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2018.1901.