How different cancer types impact a person's AFib risk
It has long been known that cancer patients face a heightened risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib)—but does that risk change depending on the type of cancer?
Researchers in South Korea examined this very question, sharing their findings in JACC: CardioOncology.
“There is a paucity of information regarding the association between cancer type and risk of AFib,” wrote lead author Jun Pil Yun, an associate professor of internal medicine at Seoul National University Hospital, and colleagues. “Cancer is a heterogeneous disease, and the impact of cancer on AFib risk may vary depending on the cancer type.”
The group examined data from more than 816,000 patients who were diagnosed with cancer from 2009 to 2016. All patients received care in South Korea, and the median follow-up time was 4.5 years. More than 25,000 patients were diagnosed with new-onset AFib.
The research team did confirm that cancer was an independent risk factor for AFib. Comparing the risk of AFib among 19 different cancer types, Yun et al. found that multiple myeloma, esophageal cancer, lung cancer and CNS cancer had the strongest association with new-onset AFib.
“Considering the high risk of AFib in patients with hematologic malignancies, intrathoracic malignancies and CNS cancer, physicians might consider more intensive screening in these subgroups,” the authors wrote. “However, it is unclear whether routine screening could improve outcomes. Additional study is needed to clarify this. Knowledge gaps also include the association between AFib and risk of subsequent adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including death, as well as optimal management strategies.”
The full analysis is available here.
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.