Increased risk of atrial fibrillation in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: A population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to compare the rate of onset of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) as compared with controls.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study on national health registry comparing the incidence of AF between a cohort of 15 670 BPH patients and a propensity-matched cohort of 15 670 control patients. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were performed to estimate the hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of incident AF associated with BPH. A subgroup analysis was performed to evaluate the risk of AF among BPH patients whether they received a BPH surgery or not as compared with those without BPH.

RESULTS

We found a 4.77 incidence rate per 1000 person-years in the BPH group, compared to 3.76 in the control group. After controlling for the confounders, a significant association between BPH and risk of incident AF was shown with an adjusted HR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.11-1.28) and this association was attenuated once surgical intervention for BPH has been applied (adjusted HR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.76-0.97).

CONCLUSIONS

This study supported the notion that BPH is associated with greater AF occurrence.