Breast cancer diagnosis ‘ups risk of AF’
Findings from a large study underscore the need for early cardioprotective intervention, researchers say
Older women newly diagnosed with breast cancer are at increased risk of developing AF and dying from cardiovascular disease, new research shows.
US researchers found the incidence of AF in patients older than 66 with breast cancer was nearly double compared with matched controls who did not have cancer (3.3% versus 1.8%) over one year’s follow-up.
And women with new-onset AF following their cancer diagnosis had a threefold higher risk of cardiovascular death versus those with breast cancer who did not develop AF, they found.
The study flagged cancer grade and stage as the strongest risk factors for AF development, with risk of the arrythmia steadily increasing with disease severity, the researchers said.
