The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 276 No 7402 p617
27 May 2006

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Atrial fibrillation a risk with high-dose corticosteroid use

Patients aged over 55 years who take high-dose oral corticosteroid therapy are at increased risk of atrial fibrillation, a study reveals (Archives of Internal Medicine 2006;166:1016).

Researchers analysed records of corticosteroid dispensing for 385 cases of atrial fibrillation (AF) and 6,364 controls. They found that the risk of new-onset AF was higher in individuals who received high-dose corticosteroid (doses equivalent to >=7.5mg prednisolone) within the previous month compared with those who did not (odds ratio 6.07, 95 per cent confidence interval 3.90–9.42).

The authors suggest that patients could be monitored for AF before and after receiving a high-dose corticosteroid course to increase the chance of diagnosis and early treatment of the condition.