Key result
Residence in a food desert was associated with a significantly higher risk of ischemic stroke (HR 2.21; 95% CI 1.12-4.36; P=0.02) and all-cause mortality among atrial fibrillation patients.
Why the study?
The impact of food desert residence on outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation remains unclear.
Does residence in a food desert increase the risk of ischemic stroke, hospitalization, and mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation?
Cohort (n=1,553)
Does residence in a food desert increase the risk of ischemic stroke, hospitalization, and mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation?
Hazard Ratio: 2.21 (95% CI 1.12–4.36)
p-value: p=0.02
Residence in a food desert is a significant social determinant of health associated with a 2.2-fold increase in stroke risk and a 3.8-fold increase in all-cause mortality among patients with atrial fibrillation.
Food desert residence signals higher AF risks; extends SDOH data but leaves causal effects and interventions open.
BACKGROUND: Extensive research has been done on the connection between dietary habits and cardiovascular health; however, the impact of food desert residence on atrial fibrillation (AF) patients remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to assess the association between food desert residence and ischemic stroke, all-cause hospitalization, and all-cause mortality risk among AF patients. METHODS: Using the Research Action for Health Network database and the United States Department of Agriculture's Food Access Research Atlas, AF patients in New Orleans were grouped into AF-inside food desert group and AF-outside food desert groups. Kaplan-Meier curves were used for the comparisons among ischemic stroke, all-cause hospitalization, all-cause mortality, and combined outcome. Multivariable Cox models were developed to adjust for relevant factors. RESULTS: Among the AF patients living in the New Orleans metropolitan area, 1,115 were identified as part of the AFID group and 438 in the AFOD group. Kaplan-Meier curves presented differences in ischemic stroke, all-cause hospitalization, all-cause mortality, and composite outcomes between the 2 groups. In Cox regression, after controlling for age, biological sex, body mass index, comorbidities, and medications including anticoagulant use, the AFID group experienced a statistically significant higher risk of ischemic stroke (HR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.12-4.36; P = 0.02), mortality (HR: 3.84; 95% CI: 1.39-10.61; P = 0.01), and composite outcomes including hospitalization, ischemic stroke, and all-cause mortality (HR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.16-1.74; P < 0.001)) as compared to the AFOD group. CONCLUSIONS: Residence in a food desert was associated with a 2.2-fold increase in stroke risk and a 3.8-fold increase in all-cause mortality among AF patients.
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Christianson et al. (2025) conducted a cohort in Atrial fibrillation (n=1,553). Food desert residence vs. Residence outside a food desert was evaluated on Ischemic stroke (HR 2.21, 95% CI 1.12-4.36, p=0.02). Residence in a food desert was associated with a significantly higher risk of ischemic stroke (HR 2.21; 95% CI 1.12-4.36; P=0.02) and all-cause mortality among atrial fibrillation patients.
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