Atrial fibrillation (AF) and complete right bundle branch block (RBBB) are independently associated with increased hemoglobin levels in apparently healthy subjects

Abstract

Objective The associations between atrial fibrillation (AF) or complete right bundle branch block (RBBB) and other laboratory tests have not been examined sufficiently in healthy populations. Methods These associations were examined with multivariable logistic regression analyses using data from 6,381 apparently healthy subjects including 46 subjects with AF and 100 subjects with RBBB. Results The mean age, body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin, the prevalence of male sex and a history of coronary heart disease (CHD) were significantly higher in subjects with AF or RBBB than without. The odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)) of AF was 1.62 (1.28-2.05) p<0.0001 for each 1 g/dL increment of hemoglobin and 1.07 (0.36-3.21) p=0.90 and 4.32 (1.29-14.43) p=0.017, respectively for the second and the third tertiles of hemoglobin compared with the first tertile after adjusting for sex, age, BMI, CHD, and other confounding covariates. The OR (95% CI) of RBBB was 1.53 (1.32-1.77) p<0.0001 for each 1 g/dL increment of hemoglobin and 2.53 (1.06-6.00) p=0.036, 3.10 (1.12-8.61) p=0.030, and 4.03 (0.91-17.82) p=0.066, respectively, for the second, third, and fourth quartiles of hemoglobin compared with the first quartile after adjusting for sex, age, BMI, CHD, and other confounding covariates. Conclusion An increased blood levels of hemoglobin was independently associated with AF and RBBB after adjusting for sex, age, BMI, CHD, and other confounding covariates in apparently healthy subjects. © 2013 The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.