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In patients with HF, AF prevalence varies by race, ethnicity

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SAN FRANCISCO — Among patients with HF, Hispanics and blacks were less likely to develop atrial fibrillation compared with non-Hispanic whites, according to data presented at the Heart Rhythm Society Scientific Sessions.

“Our analysis shows an independent association between race and ethnicity and [AF] in a large population with [HF], which is something largely unknown, specifically within the Hispanic population with [HF],” Eric H. Shulman, MD, from Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, said in a press release. “Despite having many risk factors for AF, Hispanics and African American patients had a lower risk for developing AF.”

Shulman and colleagues retrospectively analyzed 68,022 individuals aged 45 to 95 years for presence of AF and HF. They evaluated whether HF by ethnicity and race could predict the likelihood of AF after controlling for the following variables: HF, race/ethnicity, age, BMI, sex, treatment for hypertension and systolic BP.

Hispanics (n = 28,489) had a 6.7% prevalence of HF and a 9.3% prevalence of AF, blacks (n = 25,204) had a 7.9% prevalence of HF and a 9.9% prevalence of AF and non-Hispanic whites (n = 14,329) had a 7.5% prevalence of HF and a 22.1% prevalence of AF (P for interaction between race/ethnicity and HF < .001), according to the researchers.

After adjustment for risk factors, among those with HF, the risk for developing AF was lower in blacks and Hispanics compared with whites (OR for blacks = 0.768, 95% CI: 0.645-0.916; OR for Hispanics = 0.731, 95% CI: 0.613-0.87).

“We concluded that in at least our population, in the Bronx, despite having many risk factors for AF, black and Hispanic patients, relative to their Caucasian counterparts, had a lower risk to develop AF,” Shulman said in an interview with Cardiology Today. “The interaction of the presence of AF in ethnic and racial minorities can inform preventive strategies for both adverse outcomes. They could elucidate epidemiological differences and really give some focused prevention strategies going forward.” – by Dave Quaile

Reference: Shulman E, et al. Session PO01. Presented at: Heart Rhythm Society Scientific Sessions; May 4-7, 2016; San Francisco.

Disclosure: Shulman reports no relevant financial disclosures.