In a nutshell
This article investigated the factors associated with an increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF; irregular heart beat) in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). The authors concluded that other heart conditions, kidney disease, and older age increase the risk of developing AF in these patients.
Some background
AF is an abnormal heart rhythm which means that it is beating irregularly. This means blood is not being pumped around the body properly. This can cause complications such as an increased risk of blood clots in blood vessels that supply vital organs. It is known that AF is common in patients with T1D.
However, it is not known what the factors are which increase the risk of developing AF in patients with T1D.
Methods & findings
This study involved 36,258 patients with T1D. The patients were followed up for an average of 9.7 years. The development of AF was measured.
At the end of the 9.7 years, 749 (2.06%) patients developed AF. The factors that increased the risk of developing AF in this group were older age, being male, kidney complications, increased body mass index (BMI; body weight in relation to height). An increased HbA1c (a measure of long-term blood glucose control), coronary artery disease (arteries to the heart are damaged/blocked), heart failure (heart muscle cannot pump blood efficiently around the body) and damaged heart valves were other factors associated with AF.
The factors which posed the greatest risk were older age and kidney damage with macroalbuminuria (presence of large proteins in the urine). Those which caused an increased risk were high blood pressure, severe obesity (BMI >35 kg/m2) and HbA1c >9.5%.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that the most common risk factors for AF in people with T1D were older age, heart disease, and kidney damage.
The fine print
The effect of smoking was analyzed as 'smoking' or 'non-smoking'. Therefore further studies with 'never', 'former' or 'current' may provide more accurate results as to whether smoking increased the risk of AF in these patients.
Published By :
Diabetes Care
Date :
Jun 06, 2019
