Study: Modifiable Risk Factors Identified for HF in Women
A recent study has found that obesity, hypertension, smoking, and diabetes may all be modifiable risk factors for heart failure (HF) in women with new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF).
Although incident HF is the most common non-fatal event in AF patients, strategies for preventing HF are still lacking.
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The Women’s Health Study analyzed 34,736 participants without cardiovascular disease (CVD) at baseline. Median follow-up was 20.6 years. Significant modifiable risk factors for HF were identified using Cox models with time-varying assessment of risk factors after AF diagnosis.
Results showed that, during follow-up, 1495 women developed AF without prevalent HF. Multivariable models linked new-onset AF to a higher risk of HF. Patients with AF who developed HF demonstrated increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.
Time-updated, multivariable models accounting for changes in risk factors after AF diagnosis found that systolic blood pressure of more than 120 mm Hg, a body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or more, current tobacco use, and diabetes were all related to incident HF. These 4 combined modifiable risk factors accounted for an estimated 62% of the population-attributable risk of HF. The researchers noted that those who maintained or achieved optimal risk factor control had a progressive decreased risk of HF compared with those demonstrating 3 or 4 risk factors.
“In women with new-onset AF, modifiable risk factors including obesity, hypertension, smoking, and diabetes accounted for the majority of the population risk of HF,” the researchers concluded. “Optimal levels of modifiable risk factors were associated with decreased HF risk. Prospective assessment of risk factor modification at the time of AF diagnosis may warrant future investigation.”
—Christina Vogt
Reference:
Chatterjee NA, Chae CU, Kim E, et al. Modifiable risk factors for incident heart failure in atrial fibrillation [Published online June 14, 2017]. JACC: Heart Failure. doi:10.1016/j.jchf.2017.04.004.