Key result
Concomitant cancer in AF is linked to ~83% higher all-cause mortality risk.
Why the study?
The prevalence, incidence, and overall impact of cancer in patients with atrial fibrillation are not well defined.
Does concomitant cancer increase the risk of adverse clinical outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation?
Meta-Analysis (n=71,433,084)
Does concomitant cancer increase the risk of adverse clinical outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation?
Effect estimate: 1141.01 per 10,000 (95% CI 975.43-1330.56)
Cancer is highly prevalent in patients with atrial fibrillation and significantly increases their risk of all-cause mortality and bleeding, highlighting the need for careful anticoagulation management.
Concomitant cancer was associated with higher mortality and bleeding in AF; extends large pooled observational data but leaves optimal anticoagulation strategies open.
Background and Aims Contemporary studies indicate that atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in patients with cancer and adversely affects their prognosis. AF and cancer also share several risk factors. Nevertheless, the prevalence, incidence, and overall impact of cancer in patients with AF are not well defined. This study was designed to estimate the prevalence and incidence of cancer in an AF population and to evaluate its effect on clinical outcomes. Methods A systematic review and meta‐analysis were performed following international guidelines. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library for studies reporting the prevalence and incidence of cancer in patients with AF. Data were extracted from the included studies and pooled using a random‐effects model. Results The overall prevalence of cancer among AF patients was 1141.01 per 10,000 (95% CI: 975.43–1330.56; 95% PI: 219.37–4251.57), with an incidence of 172.22 per 10,000 person‐years (95% CI: 127.76–232.15; 95% PI: 40.32–735.69). Both prevalence and incidence varied according to cancer type, patient gender, and comorbid conditions. Cancer was associated with a significantly increased risk of all‐cause mortality (OR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.60–2.08) and bleeding (OR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.37–1.92). No significant associations were observed for cardiovascular death or stroke/systemic embolism. Conclusions Cancer is common in AF patients, affecting approximately 11% of this population. In addition, the incidence of cancer in AF patients is substantial and should not be overlooked. Cancer is associated with worse clinical outcomes in AF patients, including a more than 1.8‐fold increased risk of all‐cause mortality and 1.6‐fold increased risk of bleeding.
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Yang et al. (2026) conducted a meta-analysis in Atrial Fibrillation (n=71,433,084). Cancer vs. No cancer was evaluated on Prevalence of cancer (1141.01 per 10,000, 95% CI 975.43-1330.56). The overall prevalence of cancer among patients with atrial fibrillation was 11.41%, and concomitant cancer was associated with a 1.83-fold increased risk of all-cause mortality.
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