Association of Physical Activity with the Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation in Persons >65 Years Old: The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities (ARIC) Study

ABSTRACTBackgroundThough moderate levels of physical activity (PA) seem to reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), the association of PA with AF in the elderly remains unclear.MethodsWe studied 5,166 participants of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort that took part in visit 5 (2011-2013), were free of AF and had complete information on all variables. Self-reported PA was evaluated with a validated questionnaire and weekly minutes of leisure-time moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were calculated and categorized using the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (no activity [0 min/week], low [>0-<150 min/week], adequate [150-<300 min/week], high [≥300 min/week]). Incident AF between the visit 5 and the end of 2019 was ascertained from hospital discharges and death certificates. Cox models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for AF by levels of physical activity adjusting for potential confounders.ResultsThe mean (SD) age for the sample was 75 (5) years; 59% were female and 22% were Black. During a mean (SD) follow-up time of 6.3 (2.0) years, 703 AF events were identified. The association of MVPA with AF incidence showed a U-shaped relationship. Compared to those not engaging in MVPA, individuals with low MVPA had a 23% lower hazard of AF (HR= 0.77; 95% CI: 0.61, 0.96), while those with adequate MVPA had a 14% lower hazard (HR 0.86; 95% CI: 0.69, 1.06). High levels of MVPA were not associated with AF risk (HR 0.97; 95% CI: 0.78, 1.20). There was no evidence of heterogeneity when stratified by race and sex.ConclusionThis study suggests that being involved in low to moderate levels of MVPA was associated with a reduced hazard of AF. There was no evidence of increased risk of AF in those with higher levels of MVPA.

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Abstract 11637: Physical Activity and Atrial Fibrillation: Results From the Multi-ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.130.suppl_2.11637 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽

Author(s):

Aneesh Bapat ◽

Saman Nazarian ◽

Alvaro Alonso ◽

Yiyi Zhang ◽

Wendy Post ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Lower Risk ◽

Cardiovascular Health ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Cox Models ◽

Ethnic Study ◽

Farm Work ◽

Increased Risk

Introduction: Prior studies have raised the question of whether an association exists between physical activity (PA) and atrial fibrillation (AF), with mixed results. We sought to use the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) database to examine the association between PA and AF in a diverse population without clinically recognized prevalent cardiovascular disease (CVD). Hypothesis: Increased exercise will have a protective influence on AF incidence. Methods: MESA participants (N=5793) with a completed baseline PA survey and complete covariate data were included. Incident AF events were determined based on hospital discharge ICD-9 codes and Medicare inpatient claims. Total intentional exercise (TIE), defined as a sum of walking for exercise, dance/sport, and conditioning, was used as our independent variable of interest. The MESA population was stratified based on whether they reported participation in any vigorous physical activity (VPA), which was defined as “heavy effort” expended in household chores, lawn/yard/garden/farm work, conditioning activities, and occupational/volunteering work. Cox models, adjusted for demographics and CVD risk factors, were used to determine hazard ratios (HR) for incident AF based on total intentional exercise (TIE) for the subgroups. We performed similar analyses using TIE as a categorical variable stratified into tertiles. Results: During a mean follow-up of 7.7±1.9 years, 199 AF cases occurred. In the overall MESA population, TIE alone was not associated with incident AF. However, within the group that reported any VPA (N=1866), there was a statistically significant protective influence of increasing TIE on incident AF (HR=0.658, p=0.014). Additionally, among the same group, the top tertile of TIE was associated with a significantly lower risk of incident AF compared with the group with no TIE (HR=0.48, p=0.048). Conclusions: TIE was associated with a lower risk of incident AF among those that participated in any VPA, and this protective influence was most notable among those that performed the most TIE. Perhaps as importantly, no subgroup of participants demonstrated an increased risk of incident AF with TIE. These results re-emphasize the beneficial role of exercise for cardiovascular health.

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Abstract 47: Atrial Fibrillation is Associated With Increased Risk of Incident Venous Thromboembolism: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.135.suppl_1.47 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 135 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Pamela L Lutsey ◽

Faye L Norby ◽

Alvaro Alonso ◽

Mary Cushman ◽

Lin Y Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Venous Thromboembolism ◽

Incidence Rate ◽

Case Reports ◽

Time Dependent ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk ◽

Shared Risk

Background: It is well-established that atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with thrombus formation in the left atrium, which can lead to ischemic stroke. Case reports, autopsies, and transesophageal echo data have indicated that clot formation also occurs in the right atrium (i.e. right-side intracardiac thrombosis) of AF patients, which could lead to pulmonary embolism (PE). However, it is unclear whether this occurrence is common. Objective: Test the hypotheses that individuals with incident AF are at elevated risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE), and that the association will be stronger for those presenting with PE alone versus PE and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or DVT alone. Methods: A total of 15,205 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study participants, aged 45-64 years, were followed from baseline (1987-1989) to 2011 for incidence of AF and VTE (median follow-up 19.8 years). Incident AF and VTE events were identified via active surveillance and defined by relevant hospital discharge ICD codes. VTE events were validated by medical record review. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models were used, with AF modeled as a time-dependent covariate. We also evaluated separately risk of PE without evidence of DVT, DVT without PE, and events presenting with both PE and DVT. Results: At baseline participants were on average 54 years old, 55% female and 26% black. In the absence of AF there were 678 VTE events, for an incidence rate of 2.6 per 1000 person-years. After an AF diagnosis there were 77 events, with an incidence rate of 7.1 per 1000 person-years. In multivariable-adjusted models, having AF (versus no AF) was associated with a greater risk of incident VTE; the HR (95% CI) was 2.10 (1.65-2.68) after adjustment for demographics, 1.82 (1.42-2.32) additionally accounting for numerous AF and VTE risk factors, and 1.97 (1.53-2.53) after further adjusting for time-dependent anticoagulant use. When we restricted to PE events without evidence of DVT there were 188 events in total, of which 19 occurred following a diagnosis of AF. The HR for AF (versus no AF) was 1.53 (0.92-2.56) in fully adjusted models. For DVT alone there were 384 events in total, of which 48 occurred after AF diagnosis; the HR for AF was 2.43 (1.77-3.33). Among the 116 events presenting with both DVT and PE, 10 occurred after AF diagnosis, and the HR for AF was 1.36 (0.67-2.75). Conclusions: Diagnosis with AF was associated with a nearly 2-fold increased risk of incident VTE. The association was not stronger when isolated to those with PE without DVT, suggesting that higher risk of VTE among AF patients may be due to either the coagulation abnormalities that accompany AF, or shared risk factors that were not fully accounted for in this analysis.

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Physical activity volume in relation to risk of atrial fibrillation. A non-linear meta-regression analysis

European Journal of Preventive Cardiology ◽

10.1177/2047487318768026 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 25 (8) ◽

pp. 857-866 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Cristian Ricci ◽

Federico Gervasi ◽

Maddalena Gaeta ◽

Cornelius M Smuts ◽

Aletta E Schutte ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Relative Risk ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Response Analysis ◽

Metabolic Equivalents ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Non Linear ◽

Meta Regression ◽

Physical Activity Volume

Background Light physical activity is known to reduce atrial fibrillation risk, whereas moderate to vigorous physical activity may result in an increased risk. However, the question of what volume of physical activity can be considered beneficial remains poorly understood. The scope of the present work was to examine the relation between physical activity volume and atrial fibrillation risk. Design A comprehensive systematic review was performed following the PRISMA guidelines. Methods A non-linear meta-regression considering the amount of energy spent in physical activity was carried out. The first derivative of the non-linear relation between physical activity and atrial fibrillation risk was evaluated to determine the volume of physical activity that carried the minimum atrial fibrillation risk. Results The dose–response analysis of the relation between physical activity and atrial fibrillation risk showed that physical activity at volumes of 5–20 metabolic equivalents per week (MET-h/week) was associated with significant reduction in atrial fibrillation risk (relative risk for 19 MET-h/week = 0.92 (0.87, 0.98). By comparison, physical activity volumes exceeding 20 MET-h/week were unrelated to atrial fibrillation risk (relative risk for 21 MET-h/week = 0.95 (0.88, 1.02). Conclusion These data show a J-shaped relation between physical activity volume and atrial fibrillation risk. Physical activity at volumes of up to 20 MET-h/week is associated with reduced atrial fibrillation risk, whereas volumes exceeding 20 MET-h/week show no relation with risk.

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Association of Atrial Fibrillation With Incidence of Extracranial Systemic Embolic Events: The ARIC Study

Journal of the American Heart Association ◽

10.1161/jaha.120.016724 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (18) ◽

Author(s):

Mengyuan Shi ◽

Lin Y. Chen ◽

Wobo Bekwelem ◽

Faye L. Norby ◽

Elsayed Z. Soliman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Hospital Discharges ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities ◽

Entire Cohort ◽

Point Increase ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk ◽

Aric Study

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of stroke and extracranial systemic embolic events (SEEs), but little is known about the magnitude of the association of AF with SEE. Methods and Results This analysis included 14 941 participants of the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) study (mean age, 54.2±5.8, 55% women, 74% White) without AF at baseline (1987–1989) followed through 2017. AF was identified from study ECGs, hospital discharges, and death certificates, while SEEs were ascertained from hospital discharges. CHA 2 DS 2 ‐VASc was calculated at the time of AF diagnosis. Cox regression was used to estimate associations of incident AF with SEE risk in the entire cohort, and between CHA 2 DS 2 ‐VASc score and SEE risk in those with AF. Among eligible participants, 3114 participants developed AF and 270 had an SEE (59 events in AF). Incident AF was associated with increased risk of SEE (hazard ratio [HR], 3.58; 95% CI, 2.57–5.00), after adjusting for covariates. The association of incident AF with SEE was stronger in women (HR, 5.26; 95% CI, 3.28–8.44) than in men (HR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.66–4.32). In those with AF, higher CHA 2 DS 2 ‐VASc score was associated with increased SEE risk (HR per 1‐point increase, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.05–1.47). Conclusions AF is associated with more than a tripling of the risk of SEE, with a stronger association in women than in men. CHA 2 DS 2 ‐VASc is associated with SEE risk in AF patients, highlighting the value of the score to predict adverse outcomes and guide treatment decisions in people with AF.

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Abstract P004: Impact of Atrial Fibrillation on Healthcare Utilization in the Community: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.129.suppl_1.p004 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 129 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Lindsay G Smith ◽

Pamela L Lutsey ◽

Laura R Loehr ◽

Anna Kucharska-Newton ◽

Lin Y Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Healthcare Utilization ◽

Fee For Service ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities ◽

Cardiovascular Comorbidities ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk ◽

Adjusted Rate ◽

Aric Study ◽

The Impact

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased risk of hospitalization. However, little is known about the impact of AF on non-inpatient healthcare utilization or about sex or race differences in AF-related utilization. We examined rates of inpatient and outpatient utilization by AF status in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Methods and Results: ARIC cohort participants with incident AF enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare, Parts A and B, for at least 12 continuous months between 1991 and 2009 were matched on age, sex, race and center to up to three participants without AF. Healthcare utilization was ascertained from inpatient and outpatient Medicare claims and classified based on primary ICD-9 code. The analysis included 944 AF and 2,761 non-AF participants. The average number of days hospitalized per year was 13.1 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 11.5-15.0) and 2.8 (95% CI: 2.5-3.1) for those with and without AF, respectively. The corresponding number of outpatient claims per year was 53.2 (95% CI: 50.4-56.1) and 23.0 (95% CI: 22.2-23.8) for those with and without AF, respectively (Table). Most utilization in AF patients was attributable to non-AF conditions, particularly other-cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related reasons; the adjusted rate ratio for days hospitalized per year for other-CVD-related reasons was 4.76 (95% CI: 3.51 - 6.44) for those with compared to those without AF. There was suggestive evidence that sex modified the association between AF and inpatient utilization, with AF related to greater utilization in women than men. The association between AF and healthcare utilization was similar in whites and blacks. Conclusions: This study highlights the considerably greater healthcare utilization (inpatient and outpatient) among those with AF; the differential in utilization due to other-CVD-related reasons was substantial. In addition to recommended heart rate or rhythm treatment, accompanying cardiovascular comorbidities should be evaluated and managed.

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Associations of anger, vital exhaustion, anti-depressant use, and poor social ties with incident atrial fibrillation: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

European Journal of Preventive Cardiology ◽

10.1177/2047487319897163 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 204748731989716 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Parveen K Garg ◽

J’Neka S Claxton ◽

Elsayed Z Soliman ◽

Lin Y Chen ◽

Tené T Lewis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Confidence Interval ◽

Sex Education ◽

Social Ties ◽

Hazard Ratio ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities ◽

Vital Exhaustion ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk ◽

Study Participants

Background We examined the relationships of anger, vital exhaustion, anti-depressant use, and poor social ties with incident atrial fibrillation in a biracial cohort of middle and older-aged adults. Methods This analysis included 11,445 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study participants who were free of atrial fibrillation at baseline in 1990–1992. Vital exhaustion was assessed at baseline and defined as a score in the highest quartile on the 21-item Vital Exhaustion Questionnaire. Baseline anti-depressant use was self-reported. The Spielberger Trait Anger Scale to assess anger and both the Interpersonal Support Evaluation List and the Lubben Social Network Scale to assess social ties were also administered at baseline. The primary outcome was incident atrial fibrillation throughout 2016, identified by electrocardiogram, hospital discharge coding of atrial fibrillation, and death certificates. Results A total of 2220 incident atrial fibrillation cases were detected over a median follow-up of 23.4 years. After adjusting for age, race-center, sex, education, and height, participants in the 4th Vital Exhaustion Questionnaire quartile (referent = 1st Vital Exhaustion Questionnaire quartile) and those reporting anti-depressant use were at increased risk for atrial fibrillation (hazard ratio = 1.45, 95% confidence interval 1.29–1.64 for Vital Exhaustion Questionnaire; hazard ratio = 1.37, 95% confidence interval 1.11–1.69 for anti-depressant use). The increased atrial fibrillation risk observed for 4th Vital Exhaustion Questionnaire quartile participants remained significant after additional adjustment for relevant comorbidities (hazard ratio = 1.20; confidence interval 1.06–1.35). No significant associations were observed for anger or poor social ties with development of atrial fibrillation. Conclusions Vital exhaustion is associated with an increased risk of incident atrial fibrillation.

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Migraine with visual aura is a risk factor for incident atrial fibrillation

Neurology ◽

10.1212/wnl.0000000000006650 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 91 (24) ◽

pp. e2202-e2210 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Souvik Sen ◽

X. Michelle Androulakis ◽

Viktoriya Duda ◽

Alvaro Alonso ◽

Lin Yee Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Confidence Interval ◽

Stroke Risk ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Hazard Ratio ◽

Visual Aura ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk

ObjectiveMigraine with visual aura is associated with cardioembolic stroke risk. The aim of this study was to test association between migraine with visual aura and atrial fibrillation (AF), in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study.MethodsIn the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, a longitudinal, community-based cohort study, participants were interviewed for migraine history in 1993–1995 and were followed for incident AF through 2013. AF was adjudicated using ECGs, discharge codes, and death certificates. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to study the relation between migraine and its subtypes with incident AF, compared with controls without headaches. Mediation analysis was conducted to test whether AF was a mediator of migraine with visual aura-associated stroke risk.ResultsOf 11,939 participants assessed for headache and without prior AF or stroke, 426 reported migraines with visual aura, 1,090 migraine without visual aura, 1,018 nonmigraine headache, and 9,405 no headache. Over a 20-year follow-up period, incident AF was noted in 232 (15%) of 1,516 with migraine and 1,623 (17%) of 9,405 without headache. After adjustment for multiple confounders, migraine with visual aura was associated with increased risk of AF compared to no headache (hazard ratio 1.30, 95% confidence interval 1.03–1.62) as well as when compared to migraine without visual aura (hazard ratio 1.39, 95% confidence interval 1.05–1.83). The data suggest that AF may be a potential mediator of migraine with visual aura–stroke risk.ConclusionsMigraine with aura was associated with increased risk of incident AF. This may potentially lead to ischemic strokes.

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Vital exhaustion and sudden cardiac death in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Heart ◽

10.1136/heartjnl-2017-311825 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 104 (5) ◽

pp. 423-429 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Brittany M Bogle ◽

Nona Sotoodehnia ◽

Anna M Kucharska-Newton ◽

Wayne D Rosamond

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Sudden Cardiac Death ◽

Cardiac Death ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Ventricular Tachyarrhythmia ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities ◽

Vital Exhaustion ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk ◽

Aric Study

ObjectiveVital exhaustion (VE), a construct defined as lack of energy, increased fatigue and irritability, and feelings of demoralisation, has been associated with cardiovascular events. We sought to examine the relation between VE and sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.MethodsThe ARIC Study is a predominately biracial cohort of men and women, aged 45–64 at baseline, initiated in 1987 through random sampling in four US communities. VE was measured using the Maastricht questionnaire between 1990 and 1992 among 13 923 individuals. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the hazard of out-of-hospital SCD across tertiles of VE scores.ResultsThrough 2012, 457 SCD cases, defined as a sudden pulseless condition presumed due to a ventricular tachyarrhythmia in a previously stable individual, were identified in ARIC by physician record review. Adjusting for age, sex and race/centre, participants in the highest VE tertile had an increased risk of SCD (HR 1.48, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.87), but these findings did not remain significant after adjustment for established cardiovascular disease risk factors (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.20).ConclusionsAmong participants of the ARIC study, VE was not associated with an increased risk for SCD after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors.

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Abstract MP013: Strong Inverse Relation between Physical Activity and Incidence of Cardiovascular Disease in African Americans: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.125.suppl_10.amp013 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 125 (suppl_10) ◽

Author(s):

Elizabeth J Bell

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Heart Failure ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Coronary Heart Disease ◽

Heart Disease ◽

African Americans ◽

Risk Reduction ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities ◽

Baseline Visit ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk

Introduction: Although there is substantial evidence that physical activity reduces risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the few studies that included African Americans offer inconclusive evidence and did not study stroke and heart failure separately. Objective: We examined, in African Americans and Caucasians in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study (ARIC), the association of physical activity with CVD incidence (n=1,039) and its major components - stroke (n=350), heart failure (n=633), and coronary heart disease (n=442) - over a follow-up period of 21 years. Methods: ARIC is a population-based biracial cohort study of 45– to 64-yr-old adults at the baseline visit in 1987–89. Physical activity was assessed using the modified Baecke physical activity questionnaire and categorized by the American Heart Association’s ideal CVD health guidelines: poor, intermediate, and ideal physical activity. An incident CVD event was defined as the first occurrence of 1) heart failure, 2) definite or probable stroke, or 3) coronary heart disease, defined as a definite or probable myocardial infarction or definite fatal coronary heart disease. Results: We included 3,707 African Americans and 10,018 Caucasians free of CVD at the baseline visit. After adjustment for age, sex, cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, hormone therapy use, education, and ‘Western’ and ‘Prudent’ dietary pattern scores, higher physical activity was inversely related to CVD, heart failure, and coronary heart disease incidence in African Americans and Caucasians (p-values for trend tests <.0001), and with stroke in African Americans. Hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for CVD for intermediate and ideal physical activity, respectively, compared to poor, were similar by race: 0.65 (0.56, 0.75) and 0.59 (0.49, 0.71) for African Americans, and 0.74 (0.66, 0.83) and 0.67 (0.59, 0.75) for Caucasians (p-value for interaction = 0.38). Physical activity was also associated similarly in African Americans and Caucasians for each of the individual CVD outcomes (coronary heart disease, heart failure, and stroke), with an approximate one-third reduction in risk for intermediate and ideal physical activity versus poor physical activity- this reduction was statistically significant. Conclusions: In conclusion, our findings reinforce public health recommendations that regular physical activity is important for CVD risk reduction, including reductions in stroke and heart failure. They provide strong new evidence that this risk reduction applies to African Americans as well as Caucasians and support the idea that some physical activity is better than none.

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Abstract MP48: Social Network, Social Support, and the Risk of Incident Stroke: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.129.suppl_1.mp48 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 129 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Mako Nagayoshi ◽

Susan A Everson-Rose ◽

Hiroyasu Iso ◽

Thomas H Mosley ◽

Kathryn M Rose ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Social Network ◽

Short Form ◽

Network Size ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Men And Women ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities ◽

Vital Exhaustion ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk

Background and Purpose: Having a small social network and lack of social support have been associated with incident coronary heart disease, but little is known about their association with incident stroke. Thus, we assessed the association of a small social network and lack of social support with risk of incident stroke and evaluated whether the relation was mediated by vital exhaustion and inflammation. Methods: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study measured social network and social support in 13,686 men and women (mean, 57 ± 5.7 years, 56% female, 24% black; 76% white) initially free of stroke. The 10-item Lubben Social Network Scale and 16-item Interpersonal Support Evaluation List-Short Form were used to assess social network size and social support, respectively. Results: Over a median follow-up of 18.6-years, 905 incident strokes occurred. Relative to participants with a large social network, those with a small social network had a higher risk of stroke [HR (95% CI): 1.43 (1.03-2.00)] after adjustment for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and marital status ( Table ). Further adjustment for other potential confounders attenuated the association slightly. Vital exhaustion, but not inflammation, partly mediated the association between a small social network and stroke. Social support was unrelated to incident stroke. Conclusions: In this sample of US community-dwelling men and women, having a small social network was associated with excess risk of incident stroke. As with other cardiovascular conditions, having a small social network appears to be associated with modestly increased risk of incident stroke.

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