Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Electrocardiographic parameters and the risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation in the general population: the Rotterdam Study
Authors' conclusion
Associations of baseline electrocardiographic measures and risk of new-onset AF were mostly U- and N-shaped. Longitudinal electrocardiographic measures of PR and QTc interval were significantly associated with new-onset AF, in particular among men.
Study context
- Population
- Participants free of atrial fibrillation (AF) at baseline, population-based Rotterdam Study1,282 incident AF cases
- Participants
- 12,212 participants
- Exposure
- ECG parameters vs risk of new-onset AF
- Outcome
- New-onset AF
- Follow-up
- Median 9.3 years
Methodological detailspopulation-based, up to five repeated ECG measurements, Cox proportional hazards and joint models adjusted for CV risk factors; penalized cubic splines
- Population-based
- Up to five repeated ECG measurements
- Cox proportional hazards and joint models adjusted for CV risk factors; penalized cubic splines
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
New-onset AF by ECG parameters
Hazard ratio (95% CI)P value
Longitudinal higher PR interval
1.43(1.02–2.04)
P = 0.0393Longitudinal higher QTc interval
5.23(2.18–12.45)
P = 0.0002Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Sex differences in shape of associations
- Sex differences most apparent for baseline PR, QT, QTc, RR interval and heart rate
Original publication
Electrocardiographic parameters and the risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation in the general population: the Rotterdam Study. Europace. Published 27 June 2023. doi:10.
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