Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
Epilepsy and long-term risk of arrhythmias
- Prospective cohort study
- population-based
- UK Biobank
- polygenic risk scores
- drug target Mendelian randomization
Authors' conclusion
This study revealed the higher risk of cardiac arrhythmias persists long term in people with epilepsy, especially among those using carbamazepine and valproic acid.
Study context
- Population
- UK Biobank participants recruited 2006–2010
- Participants
- 329,432 participants
- Exposure
- Epilepsy vs no epilepsy
- Epilepsyn = 2,699
- Outcome
- Long-term incidence of cardiac arrhythmias and arrhythmia subtypes
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Epilepsy vs No epilepsyHazard ratio (95% CI)
all cardiac arrhythmias
1.36(1.21–1.53)
AF
1.26(1.08–1.46)
other cardiac arrhythmias
1.56(1.34–1.81)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Effect modification by genetic predisposition (polygenic risk scores (PRS))
- Associations not modified by genetic predisposition (PRS)
ASM use and cardiac arrhythmias
- Higher risk with antiseizure medications (ASMs), especially carbamazepine and valproic acid; supported by drug target Mendelian randomization (MR)
- PSMR < .05 and PHEIDI > .05
Original publication
Epilepsy and long-term risk of arrhythmias. Eur Heart J. Published 21 August 2023. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehad523
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it