Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
Adverse outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation and a pacemaker: a cohort study
- Prospective cohort study
- multicentre
- 2 Swiss cohorts (Swiss-AF, Beat-AF)
- time-updated Cox regression
Authors' conclusion
Patients with AF and a PM experienced an increased rate of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, the PM itself was not independently associated with these outcomes.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in two Swiss prospective cohorts, yearly follow-up up to 8 years445 (12.1%) with pacemaker (PM) at baseline
- Participants
- 3,675 patients
- Exposure
- Pacemaker vs no pacemaker
- Outcome
- MACE (stroke or TIA, MI, CV death, systemic embolism); HF hospitalization
- Follow-up
- Median 7 years
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
PM
5.97 per 100 patient-years
Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) · heart failure (HF) 5.08 per 100 patient-years
No PM
3.37 per 100 patient-years
MACE · HF 2.61 per 100 patient-years
PM vs No PMAdjusted hazard ratio (95% CI)P value
MACE
1.12(0.95–1.33)
P = 0.183HF
1.14(0.94–1.37)
P = 0.180Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
Individual components of MACE
- Consistent results (no independent association with PM)
Original publication
Adverse outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation and a pacemaker: a cohort study. Europace. Published 28 October 2025. doi:10.1093/europace/euaf275
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it