Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
Accumulation of chronic conditions in patients aged <65 years diagnosed with atrial fibrillation
- Matched community-based cohort study
- matched 1:1 on age (±5 years) and sex
- Andersen-Gill models
Authors' conclusion
Patients aged <65 years with AF have an increased accumulation of chronic conditions compared with those without AF, in particular within the first year after AF diagnosis.
Study context
- Population
- Patients aged <65 years with incident atrial fibrillation (AF) from 2013 to 2019, and referents from the same communitypatients with incident AF, each matched 1:1 to a referent
- Participants
- 3,462 patients
- Exposure
- AF or referent status and accumulation of conditions
- Patients with AFn = 3,462
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
No chronic conditions before index · before index
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | HR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Accumulation of chronic conditions · within the first year after diagnosis/index — Patients with AF vs Referents · CV-related conditions | 3.80 (3.30–4.37) | |
| Accumulation of chronic conditions · within the first year after diagnosis/index — Patients with AF vs Referents · non-CV conditions | 2.42 (2.14–2.74) | |
| Accumulation of CV-related conditions by subgroup · After 1 year — Patients with AF vs Referents · women | 1.36 (1.13–1.63) | |
| Accumulation of CV-related conditions by subgroup · After 1 year — Patients with AF vs Referents · aged <50 | 1.50 (1.13–1.99) | |
| Accumulation of CV-related conditions by subgroup · After 1 year — Patients with AF vs Referents · aged 50-54 years | 1.43 (1.09–1.86) | |
| 0.20.5125Hazard ratio (log scale) |
Accumulation of chronic conditions · within the first year after diagnosis/index
- Accumulation of conditions was accelerated in patients with AF compared with referents; strongest associations within the first year
Accumulation of chronic conditions by subgroup
- Stronger associations were observed for cardiovascular (CV)-related conditions, in women, and in the youngest age group
Accumulation of CV-related conditions by subgroup · After 1 year
- not observed in men
Original publication
Accumulation of chronic conditions in patients aged <65 years diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. Heart Rhythm. Published 18 July 2026. doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2026.07.028
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it