Metabolic syndrome does not impose greater atrial fibrillation risk in elderly hypertensive patients

Abstract

Objective — Metabolic syndrome (MS) increases the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). It is not clear if MS imposes a greater risk of AF in elderly hypertensive patients.

Methods — The data were gathered from surveys of 3,775 patients participating in the LIFE survey from November 2005 to July 2006. From this database there were 2,055 patients with MS, and 125 patients were diagnosed with AF.

Results — The prevalence of AF was not different between the MS and non-MS group. With an increasing number of MS components, the prevalence of AF did not change. Univariate analysis revealed that AF patients were older, male-predominant, and had more left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), heart failure, and coronary artery disease. There were higher levels of uric acid and creatinine in AF patients. AF patients were prescribed antihypertensive drugs, especially diuretics, but less frequently statins. Upon multivariate analysis, age, LVH, heart failure, use of diuretics, and use of statins were the independent predictors of AF. None of the MS components could predict AF attack.

Conclusions — MS does not impose more AF risk in elderly hypertensive patients. Aging, heart failure, LVH, and drugs used may play more important roles.

• Metabolic syndrome
• atrial fibrillation
• hypertension