Association of Chronic Kidney Disease With Atrial Fibrillation Among Adults in the United States

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common among patients with end-stage renal disease, but few data are available on its prevalence among adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) of lesser severity. We evaluated the association of CKD with ECG-detected AF among 26 917 participants in the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, a population-based cohort of African-American and white US adults ≥45 years of age. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease study equation and albuminuria was defined as a urinary albumin to creatinine ratio ≥30 mg/g. Participants were categorized by renal function: no CKD (eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m ² without albuminuria, n=21 081), stage 1 to 2 CKD (eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m ² with albuminuria n=2938), stage 3 CKD (eGFR 30 to 59 mL/min/1.73 m ² , n=2683) and stage 4 to 5 CKD (eGFR 2 , n=215). The prevalence of AF among participants without CKD, and with stage 1 to 2, stage 3, and stage 4 to 5 CKD was 1.0%, 2.8%, 2.7% and 4.2%, respectively. Compared with participants without CKD, the age-, race-, and sex-adjusted odds ratios for prevalent AF were 2.67 (95% confidence interval, 2.04 to 3.48), 1.68 (95% confidence interval, 1.26 to 2.24) and 3.52 (95% confidence interval, 1.73 to 7.15) among those with stage 1 to 2, stage 3, and stage 4 to 5 CKD. The association between CKD and prevalent AF remained statistically significant after further multivariable adjustment and was consistent across numerous subgroups. Regardless of severity, CKD is associated with an increased prevalence of AF among US adults.