Does the Choice of Antihypertensive Agent Affect Risk for AFib?

In a case-control study, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, and beta-blockers were associated with a reduction in incident AF compared with calcium-channel blockers.

Hypertension is a known risk factor for atrial fibrillation. To assess and compare the relative risk for incident AF among patients taking different classes of antihypertensive drugs, investigators used a British general practice database to conduct a nested case-control analysis. All participants had hypertension diagnoses and had received one or more prescriptions for an ACE inhibitor, angiotensin-receptor blocker, beta-blocker, calcium-channel blocker, diuretic, or any combination of these drugs.

Of a total of 682,993 antihypertensive drug recipients, 4661 were diagnosed with AF and met inclusion criteria for the analysis. Almost two thirds of the case patients were 70 or older at first AF diagnosis. The investigators randomly identified …

Reviewing Author

Joel M. Gore, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNIH–National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Joel M. Gore, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNIH–National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Does the Choice of Antihypertensive Agent Affect Risk for AFib?

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Reviewing Author