Key result
Shorter leucocyte telomere length was significantly associated with an increased risk for incident pacemaker implantation (HR 1.03 per SD decrease; 95% CI 1.01-1.06; P=0.012).
Why the study?
Telomere length is considered a marker of biological ageing that may provide information regarding cardiac conduction disease beyond chronological age.
Does shorter leucocyte telomere length increase the risk of conduction system disease and incident pacemaker implantation in a general population cohort?
Population
Up to 420 071 participants in the UK Biobank
Comparison
Shorter vs longer leucocyte telomere length
Design
Population-based cohort study and Mendelian randomisation analysis
Follow-up
Median 13.6 (IQR 1.5) years
Authors
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LTL may mark conduction slowing beyond age; leaves open whether telomere biology informs arrhythmia risk stratification or prevention.
Cohort (n=420,071)
Does shorter leucocyte telomere length increase the risk of conduction system disease and incident pacemaker implantation in a general population cohort?
Hazard Ratio: 1.03 (95% CI 1.01–1.06)
p-value: p=0.012
Shorter leucocyte telomere length is an independent risk factor for atrioventricular conduction delay and the need for pacemaker implantation, highlighting the role of biological ageing in conduction system disease.
Duijvenboden et al. (2024) conducted a cohort in Cardiac conduction disease (n=420,071). Shorter leucocyte telomere length vs. Longer leucocyte telomere length was evaluated on Incident pacemaker implantation (HR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.06, p=0.012). Shorter leucocyte telomere length was significantly associated with an increased risk for incident pacemaker implantation (HR 1.03 per SD decrease; 95% CI 1.01-1.06; P=0.012).
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