Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
Association of early rhythm control with depression outcomes in atrial fibrillation: A nationwide population-based cohort study
- nationwide population-based cohort study
Authors' conclusion
ERC is associated with a lower risk of depression onset or worsening in patients with AF.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) from the National Health Information Database, categorized by prior depressionpatients with AF · group A (without prior depression) 349,804 · group B (with prior depression) 183,524
- Participants
- 533,328 patients
- Exposure
- Early rhythm control (ERC) vs usual care
Main finding
New-onset depression (group A)
Adjusted hazard ratio
0.963
95% CI 0.946–0.980
P < 0.001
ERC vs usual care group
aHR 0.963 (95% CI 0.946–0.980); P < 0.001
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Values | aHR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital admission for depression as a principal diagnostic code (group B) · lower risk with ERC | 0.714 (0.619–0.822) | P < 0.001 | ||
| Hospital admission for depression listed among the top 5 diagnostic codes (group B) · lower risk with ERC | 0.812 (0.777–0.848) | P < 0.001 | ||
| Hospital admission for any psychiatric condition (group B) · lower risk with ERC | 0.652 (0.605–0.703) | P < 0.001 | ||
| 0.512Adjusted hazard ratio (log scale) |
| Outcome | Values | Estimate | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proportion of patients receiving ERC | group A 30.1% · group B 27.7% |
Hospital admission for depression, by age and sex (subgroup)
- Lower risk associated with ERC more pronounced among younger (<65 years) and male patients with AF
Original publication
Association of early rhythm control with depression outcomes in atrial fibrillation: A nationwide population-based cohort study. Heart Rhythm. Published 4 August 2026. doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2026.07.042
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it