Nonoptimal Temperature Is Associated With Higher Atrial Fibrillation Hospitalizations in China: A Nationwide...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Cardiovascular Epidemiology
• Climate Change and Health

Background:

• Limited research exists on extreme temperatures' specific impact on atrial fibrillation (AF) hospitalizations.
• Previous studies have not comprehensively assessed AF hospitalizations across a broad temperature spectrum.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the association between nonoptimal ambient temperatures and AF hospitalizations.
• To investigate the impact of extreme cold and heat on AF-related hospital admissions.

Main Methods:

• A nationwide case-crossover study involving over 1.6 million AF patients from 2014-2023.
• Utilized conditional quasi-Poisson and distributed lag nonlinear models to analyze temperature-AF hospitalization links.
• Conducted subgroup and attributable burden analyses to identify vulnerable populations.

Main Results:

• The optimal temperature for AF hospitalization was 24.3°C.
• Extreme cold (1st percentile) increased AF hospitalization risk by 32% (RR: 1.32), while extreme heat (99th percentile) showed a smaller increase (RR: 1.03).
• Nonoptimal temperatures accounted for 14.3% of AF hospital admissions, with a higher burden in northern China (18.4%) compared to southern China (12.4%).

Conclusions:

• Extreme cold temperatures are significantly associated with increased AF hospitalization risk.
• Northern China faces a disproportionately higher burden of AF hospitalizations due to cold temperatures.
• Highlights the need for targeted healthcare management and resource allocation in regions prone to cold weather extremes.