Association between alcohol consumption and subclinical atrial fibrillation

Abstract Background It has become important to identify and manage risk factors for subclinical atrial fibrillation (AF) with an increase in its detection rate. Thus, this research aimed to investigate whether alcohol consumption contributes to the development of subclinical AF. Methods This prospective study enrolled 467 patients without AF from a multicenter pacemaker registry. The incidence of subclinical AF (episodes of atrial rate > 220 beats per minute without symptoms) was compared between alcohol-drinking and non-drinking groups. Results During followup (median 18 months), the incidence and risk of long-duration atrial high-rate episodes (AHRE) ≥ 24 h were increased in the alcohol group compared to the non-alcohol group [5.47 vs. 2.10 per 100 person-years, adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 2.83; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.14–7.04; P = 0.03]. After propensity score matching, the incidence and risk of long-duration AHRE were higher in the alcohol group (6.97 vs. 1.27 per 100 person-years, adjusted HR, 7.84; 95% CI, 1.21–50.93; P = 0.03). The mean burden of long-duration subclinical AF was higher in the alcohol group than in the non-alcohol group (0.18 vs. 1.61% during follow-up, P = 0.08). Conclusion Alcohol consumption was associated with an increased risk of subclinical AF. Long-duration AHRE incidence and AHRE burden were higher in alcohol drinkers than in non-drinkers.