Abstract 12946: Higher Burden of Atrial Fibrillation is Independently Associated With Lower Cognitive Function: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study
Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with greater cognitive decline and increased risk of dementia. However, it is unknown whether AF burden (% of time a person is in AF) is associated with cognition. We aimed to assess the cross-sectional association of AF burden with cognitive test scores in the ARIC study, a community-based prospective cohort study in the USA. Methods: We included 325 (mean age, 76.9 ± 5.2 years; 52.9% female) participants who underwent cognitive tests (Table) and ≥2 days of heart rhythm recording using the Zio ® Patch (a non-invasive, leadless, 2-week continuous ECG recording device by iRhythm Techonologies, Inc.) in July 2013-March 2014. We used multivariable linear regression to assess the association of AF burden (dichotomized at the median) with standardized z-scores of cognitive tests. Results: The mean wear and analysis time of the Zio ® Patch were 13.1 ± 2.1 and 12.7 ± 2.3 days, respectively. Of 325 participants, 13 (4.0%) had a prior ischemic stroke. There were 26 (8%) participants with AF recorded (median AF burden among participants with AF, 51%), of whom 4 (15.4%) had a prior ischemic stroke. Compared with absence of AF, higher AF burden was independently associated with lower MMSE, DWR, and AN scores, but not DSS and CTP. Conclusions: Higher burden of AF is independently associated with lower cognitive function, specifically memory and verbal function. This association needs to be confirmed prospectively and further research is needed to elucidate its mechanism.