| Abstract |
BACKGROUND:
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice
and is particularly common in the elderly. Although effects of fish intake,
including potential antiarrhythmic effects, may favorably influence risk
of AF, relationships between fish intake and AF incidence have not been
evaluated. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a prospective, population-based cohort
of 4815 adults > or =age 65 years, usual dietary intake was assessed
at baseline in 1989 and 1990. Consumption of tuna and other broiled or baked
fish correlated with plasma phospholipid long-chain n-3 fatty acids, whereas
consumption of fried fish or fish sandwiches (fish burgers) did not. AF
incidence was prospectively ascertained on the basis of hospital discharge
records and annual electrocardiograms. During 12 years' follow-up, 980 cases
of incident AF were diagnosed. In multivariate analyses, consumption of
tuna or other broiled or baked fish was inversely associated with incidence
of AF, with 28% lower risk with intake 1 to 4 times per week (HR=0.72, 95%
CI=0.58 to 0.91, P=0.005), and 31% lower risk with intake > or =5 times
per week (HR=0.69, 95% CI=0.52 to 0.91, P=0.008), compared with <1 time
per month (P trend=0.004). Results were not materially different after adjustment
for preceding myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure. In similar
analyses, fried fish/fish sandwich consumption was not associated with lower
risk of AF. CONCLUSIONS: Among elderly adults, consumption of tuna or other
broiled or baked fish, but not fried fish or fish sandwiches, is associated
with lower incidence of AF. Fish intake may influence risk of this common
cardiac arrhythmia.
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