Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Increased atrial fibrillation risk in rheumatoid arthritis: Greater in seropositive than seronegative patients
Authors' conclusion
This study shows that both patients with SPRA and SNRA are at a significantly greater risk for AF compared with non-RA controls, with patients with SPRA at the highest risk.
Study context
- Population
- Participants first diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) between 2010 and 2017, with matched non-RA controlspatients with RA, plus 146,655 matched controls · SPRA 34,699 · seronegative RA (SNRA) 14,186 · matched controls 146,655
- Participants
- 48,885 participants
- Exposure
- RA vs matched non-RA controls; SPRA vs SNRA
- RAn = 48,885
- SPRAn = 34,699
- SNRAn = 14,186reference
- non-RA controlsn = 146,655reference
- Outcome
- Incident AF
Methodological detailsnationwide, National Health Insurance Service database, matched non-RA controls by age and sex (1:3 ratio), followed from 1 year after the index date (to mitigate surveillance bias)
- Nationwide
- National Health Insurance Service database
- Matched non-RA controls by age and sex (1:3 ratio)
- Followed from 1 year after the index date (to mitigate surveillance bias)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Adjusted hazard ratio (95% CI)
RAvs non-RA controls
1.55(1.46–1.65)
SPRAvs SNRA
1.19(1.02–6.34)
aHR
- SPRA vs non-RA controls
- 1.63
- SNRA vs non-RA controls
- 1.37
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
Atrial fibrillation (AF) risk by b/tsDMARDs use (secondary objective)
- Biologic DMARD use associated with a slightly higher risk of AF
- Targeted synthetic DMARD use led to risk reduction, but was not statistically significant
Original publication
Increased atrial fibrillation risk in rheumatoid arthritis: Greater in seropositive than seronegative patients. Heart Rhythm. Published 7 August 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →