Inflammation and day-to-day occurrence of atrial fibrillation

doi:10.1093/europace/euag067

Arrhythmias & electrophysiologySecondary analysis

Inflammation and day-to-day occurrence of atrial fibrillation

EuropacePublished 8 Apr 2026

Secondary analysis of the LOOP randomised trial
post hoc analysis
self-controlled case series

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Authors' conclusion

This exploratory study found a temporal and dose-response relationship between CRP levels and AF occurrence, supporting inflammation as an acute trigger

Study context

Population: Individuals with stroke risk factors continuously monitored by implantable loop recorder (ILR) in the LOOP studyILR and C-reactive protein (CRP) data available
Participants: 1,065 individuals

Comparison: Atrial fibrillation (AF) days vs non-AF days by plasma CRP
Primary endpoint: AF episodes lasting ≥60 min

Primary result

As reported in the abstract

CRP and AF occurrence

AF days8.37geometric mean · CI 7.11–9.86 · mg/L

Non-AF days4.02geometric mean · CI 3.71–4.35 · mg/L

odds of AF

Adjusted odds ratio (CI)

Each doubling of CRP

1.36(1.26–1.47)

CRP >10-50 mg/L vs CRP ≤3 mg/L

3.50(2.18–5.60)

CRP >50 mg/L vs CRP ≤3 mg/L

5.75(3.48–9.50)

Further findings

Outcome	Lower risk with CRP >10 mg/L ←→ Higher risk with CRP >10 mg/L	IRR (CI)
AF incidence, CRP >10 mg/L vs lower levels (SCCS) · self-controlled case series		2.41 (1.53–3.80)
	0.20.5125Incidence rate ratio (log scale)

Original publication

Inflammation and day-to-day occurrence of atrial fibrillation. Europace. Published 8 April 2026. doi:10.1093/europace/euag067

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Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it