Role of ideal cardiovascular health metrics in reducing risk of incident arrhythmias

Cardiovascular health (CVH) has been proven to reduce cardiovascular disease burden and mortality, but data are lacking regarding cardiac arrhythmias. The aim of this study was to assess the association between CVH metrics and atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF), ventricular arrhythmias, and bradyarrhythmias.

This study analysed data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort, with participants recruited from four different communities across the United States. Cardiovascular health metrics were scored at baseline (1987–89) following the American Heart Association’s recommendations and categorized as poor, intermediate, or ideal. Arrhythmia episodes were diagnosed by International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 code. Adjusted associations were estimated using Cox models and event rates and population attributable fractions were calculated by CVH metrics category. The study population consisted of 13 078 participants, with 2548 AF, 1363 ventricular arrhythmias, and 706 bradyarrhythmias occurred. The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for ideal (vs. poor) CVH metrics were 0.59 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.50–0.69] for AF, 0.38 (95% CI: 0.28–0.51) for ventricular arrhythmias, and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.51–0.97) for bradyarrhythmia. The risk of incident arrhythmias decreased steadily as the CVH metrics improved from 0 to 14 scores. The adjusted population attributable fractions were calculated to be 29.9% for AF, 54.4% for ventricular arrhythmias, and 21.9% for bradyarrhythmia, respectively. The association between CVH metrics and incident arrhythmias was also seen in people who remained free of coronary heart disease over the follow-up.

Achieving ideal CVH metrics recommendations by AHA in midlife was associated with a lower risk of incident arrhythmias later in life.