Higher lean body mass was associated with a 15% higher risk of A V block in men (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.09-1.21, P < 0.001) and a 13% higher risk in women (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.05-1.22, P = 0.001).
Cohort (n=370,415)
Yes
Does higher lean body mass increase the risk of incident atrioventricular block in middle-aged adults?
Higher lean body mass is independently associated with an increased risk of incident atrioventricular block and prolonged PQ interval in both men and women.
Effect estimate: HR 1.15 for men, HR 1.13 for women (95% CI 1.09-1.21 for men, 1.05-1.22 for women)
Absolute Event Rate: 0.75% vs 0.3%
p-value: p=<0.001 for men, 0.001 for women
AbstractBackground Information regarding the association between lean body mass (LBM) and atrioventricular (AV) block risk is lacking. Objective To determine the associations of LBM with AV block risk. Methods We analyzed 370,415 UK Biobank participants who underwent bioimpedance analysis and had no history of AV block or cardiac implantable electronic devices. The primary outcome was a composite of second- or third-degree AV block. Secondary outcomes included each component of the primary outcome and AV block-related pacemaker implantation. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) per 1-SD increase in LBM were estimated using multivariable Cox regression. Results The mean age was 56.8 years, and 52.4% were women. During a median 11.8-year follow-up, 1519 and 677 primary outcome events occurred in men and women, respectively. LBM per 1-SD increase (7.7 kg in men and 5.0 kg in women) was associated with a 15% (HR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.09–1.21, PConclusion Higher LBM was associated with increased AV block risk in both sexes and with a higher prevalence of a prolonged PQ interval. Sex differences in AV block risk may be partly mediated by differences in LBM.
Chung et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Atrioventricular Block (n=370,415). Lean Body Mass vs. null was evaluated on Composite of second-degree or third-degree A V block (HR 1.15 for men, HR 1.13 for women, 95% CI 1.09-1.21 for men, 1.05-1.22 for women, p=<0.001 for men, 0.001 for women). Higher lean body mass was associated with a 15% higher risk of A V block in men (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.09-1.21, P < 0.001) and a 13% higher risk in women (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.05-1.22, P = 0.001).