Key result
Solid cancer was associated with a significantly higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation compared to noncancer patients (OR 1.47; 95% CI 1.31-1.66; p<0.00001).
Why the study?
Epidemiological evidence linking cancer with new-onset atrial fibrillation had yielded conflicting results.
Does a cancer diagnosis increase the risk of developing new-onset atrial fibrillation compared to noncancer patients?
Meta-Analysis (n=5,889,234)
Does a cancer diagnosis increase the risk of developing new-onset atrial fibrillation compared to noncancer patients?
Patients with solid cancer have a significantly increased risk of developing new-onset atrial fibrillation, particularly within the first 90 days following diagnosis.
May warrant closer AF monitoring in solid cancer; extends observational meta-analyses but leaves causal impact and screening benefit open.
Aims . Previous studies have demonstrated epidemiological evidence for an association between cancer and the development of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF). However, these results have been conflicting. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between cancer and the risk of developing atrial fibrillation. Methods . PubMed and Web of Science were searched for publications examining the association between cancer and atrial fibrillation risk published until June 2017. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) or hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CI were extracted and pooled. Results . A total of five studies involving 5,889,234 subjects were included in this meta-analysis. Solid cancer patients are at higher risk developing atrial fibrillation compared to noncancer patients (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.31 to 1.66, p<0.00001; I 2 = 67%, p=0.02). The risk of atrial fibrillation was highest within 90 days of cancer diagnosis (OR 7.62, 95% CI 3.08 to 18.88, p<0.00001) and this risk diminished with time. Conclusions . The risk of AF was highest within 90 days of cancer diagnosis. We should take into account the increased risk of atrial fibrillation development and, after this, study the embolic risk and potential indication of oral anticoagulation.
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Yuan et al. (2019) conducted a meta-analysis in Cancer (n=5,889,234). Solid cancer vs. Noncancer patients was evaluated on Developing atrial fibrillation (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.31 to 1.66, p=<0.00001). Solid cancer was associated with a significantly higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation compared to noncancer patients (OR 1.47; 95% CI 1.31-1.66; p<0.00001).
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