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Once-yearly intravenous administration of the bisphosphonate zoledronic acid (Reclast) doubles risk for serious atrial fibrillation (AF; JW Womens Health May 3 2007); however, results of a Danish case-control study did not show an association between use of oral alendronate and AF (JW Womens Health Apr 17 2008). Now, based on medical records from a large healthcare delivery system in Washington State, investigators have assessed alendronate use in 719 diagnosed cases of AF and in 966 matched controls.
Forty-two percent of cases had transitory AF, 46% had persistent or intermittent AF, and 12% had sustained AF. Ever-use of alendronate was associated with excess risk for AF even after adjustment for race, height, BMI, osteoporosis, diabetes, c…