Key result
Psychological factors including anxiety (HR 1.10), anger (HR 1.08), depression (HR 1.15), and work stress (HR 1.14) were not significantly associated with the risk of incident atrial fibrillation.
Why the study?
Although several studies have investigated the role of psychological factors in AF, the results remain under debate.
Do psychological factors (anxiety, anger, depression, and stress) increase the risk of incident atrial fibrillation?
Population
11 cohort studies examining psychological factors and incident AF
Comparison
Psychological factors (anxiety, anger, depression, psychological stress) vs their absence or lower levels
Design
Meta-analysis of cohort studies
Authors
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No association with incident AF; challenges assumptions of psychological risk and redirects prevention research to established factors.
Meta-Analysis (n=244,632)
Do psychological factors (anxiety, anger, depression, and stress) increase the risk of incident atrial fibrillation?
Hazard Ratio: 1.1 (95% CI 0.97–1.24)
p-value: p=0.14
This meta-analysis found no significant association between psychological factors (anger, anxiety, depression, work stress) and the risk of incident atrial fibrillation.
Fu et al. (2020) conducted a meta-analysis in Atrial fibrillation (n=244,632). Psychological factors (anxiety, anger, depression, and psychological stress) vs. No or low psychological factors was evaluated on Incident atrial fibrillation (anxiety) (HR 1.10, 95% CI 0.97-1.24, p=0.14). Psychological factors including anxiety (HR 1.10), anger (HR 1.08), depression (HR 1.15), and work stress (HR 1.14) were not significantly associated with the risk of incident atrial fibrillation.
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