If you have irregular heartbeats, stop smoking and reduce your risk of stroke

Scientists today urged people with atrial fibrillation, the most common heart rhythm disorder, to break habits and reduce the risk of stroke. The study will be announced today at ESC Congress 2020.

At least one in four middle-aged adults in Europe and the United States develop atrial fibrillation. This is a condition that will affect up to 17 million people in the EU by 2030. If you have atrial fibrillation, stroke Than those without arrhythmias. The risk of death from atrial fibrillation is also high, doubling in women and 1.5 times in men. Stroke is the most common cause of death in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Previous research showed that smoker Atrial fibrillation and subsequent stroke are more likely to develop. Many strokes are prevented with oral anticoagulants, but data on the effects of smoking cessation after atrial fibrillation are limited Diagnosis..

This study investigated the association between smoking cessation after newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation and risk of stroke and all-cause mortality. The researchers used the Korean National Health Insurance Service Database and National Health Checkup Database. Koreans over the age of 40 are advised to undergo a national health examination every two years. Uptake rates were high, for example 75% were screened in 2014.

The researchers identified 523,174 patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation between 2010 and 2016. Patients with previous seizures were excluded. The study included 97,637 patients who underwent a national health examination for less than two years before being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and a second health examination within two years. Patients were followed up for stroke or death until the end of 2017 after the second examination.

The average age was 61 and 62% were male. Participants were classified according to smoking status before and after the atrium Fibrillation Diagnosis: non-smokers, former smokers (quit smoking before diagnosis), non-smokers (quit smoking after diagnosis), current smokers (those who smoke persistently before and after diagnosis, new smokers who start after diagnosis) Including). The percentages of unsmokers, former smokers, non-smokers, and current smokers were 51.2%, 27.3%, 6.9%, and 14.6%, respectively.

During a median follow-up of 3 years, there were 3,109 strokes and a total cause of death of 4,882 (10.0 per 1,000 person-years and 15.4 per 1,000 person-years, respectively).

After considering other factors that may affect relationships such as age, gender, etc., smokers have a 30% lower probability of stroke and 16% of all-cause mortality, compared to current smokers It has become low. High blood pressure, Body mass index, and Physical activity..

Smokers remained at increased risk compared to nonsmokers. Stroke risk and all causes death Increased by 19% and 46% respectively, but these associations were consistently observed only in men. New persistent smokers were at greater risk of stroke than those who had never smoked. The odds of new smokers increased by 84% and the odds of persistent smokers increased by 66%.

The research author, Dr. So-Ryoung Lee of Seoul National University Hospital, said, “Smoking can cause blood clots and stroke. Stroke risk After discontinuation, it may be due to damage that has already occurred in the artery (called atherosclerosis). “

She said those who were heavy smokers before quitting had less clear benefits of quitting. Atrial fibrillation Diagnosis. Heavy smoker is defined as a person who smokes 20 cigarettes daily for at least 30 years. “This may be related to long-term damage to blood vessels that make stroke prone to stroke,” Dr. Lee said.

Dr. Lee said: “If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If so, it’s never too late to quit smoking. Regardless of how much you smoke, kicking a habit is good for your health” is.”

For more information:
Abstract Title: Impact of Smoking Cessation After a New Diagnosis of Atrial Fibrillation on Stroke Risk: A National Cohort Study.