Close bidirectional relationship between chronic kidney disease and atrial fibrillation: The Niigata preventive medicine study
Received 11 March 2009; accepted 21 June 2009.
Background
Atrial fibrillation (AF) and chronic kidney disease share risk factors and pathophysiologic mechanisms, suggesting that two conditions have close relationships.
Methods
This is a prospective community-based observational cohort study including 235,818 subjects based upon a voluntary annual health check-up program in Japan. We studied the association of kidney dysfunction at entry with subsequent new-onset AF and the association of AF at entry with the development of kidney disease.
Results
During a follow-up of 5.9 ± 2.4 years, AF developed in 2947 subjects (1.3%). Baseline serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were associated with risk of subsequent AF. The HRs (95% CI) for AF were 1.32 (1.08-1.62) and 1.57 (0.89-2.77) for GFR 30 to 59 and <30 mL/min per 1.73 m2, respectively. The effect of kidney disease on risk of new-onset AF remained significant in subjects without treated hypertension or diabetes. During the follow-up, 7791 subjects (3.3%) developed kidney dysfunction (GFR <60 mL/min per 1.73 m2), and 11 307 subjects (4.9%) developed proteinuria. Atrial fibrillation at entry was associated with development of kidney dysfunction (HRs [95% CI], 1.77 [1.50-2.10]) and proteinuria (HR [95% CI], 2.20 [1.92-2.52]). The association persisted in subjects without treated hypertension or diabetes.
Conclusions
Kidney dysfunction increased the risk of new onset of AF, and AF increased the risk of development of kidney disease. This finding supports the concept that the two conditions share common abnormal molecular signaling pathways contributing to their pathogenesis.
aDivision of Cardiology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan
bNiigata Association for Comprehensive Health Promotion and Research, Niigata, Japan
cDepartment of Clinical Biology and Medicine, University of Tokushima Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Tokushima, Japan
dDepartments of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN
Reprint requests: Hiroshi Watanabe, Division of Cardiology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-754 Asahimachidori, Niigata 951-8510, Japan.
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