Renal transplant recipients have a high incidence of hypertension, a known risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF), as well as factors that could increase their risk of AF. However, the incidence of, risk factors for, and mortality associated with AF after renal transplantation have not been reported. We present a historical cohort study of 39 628 renal transplant recipients in the United States Renal Data System between 1 July 1994 and 30 June 1998.
Data source: USRDS files through May 2000. Associations with hospitalizations for a primary diagnosis of AF (ICD-9 codes 427.31) after renal transplant were assessed by Cox Regression analysis. Tacrolimus was not approved for use by the FDA during the time-frame of the study. The incidence of AF after renal transplantation was 5.8 episodes/1000 person-years. In Cox Regression analysis, recipients who were older age, experienced graft loss, rejection, had higher body mass index, renal failure due to hypertension, and cyclosporine use (vs. tacrolimus use) were associated with increased risk of hospitalized AF. Atrial fibrillation was not uncommon after renal transplantation, and was associated with increased risk of mortality, primarily from cardiovascular disease. The strongest risk factors for AF after renal transplantation were older age, allograft rejection, graft loss and obesity.