Garcia LP, Liu S, Lenihan CR, Montez-Rath ME, Chang TI, Winkelmayer WC, Khairallah P. Dialysis Modality, Transplant Characteristics, and Incident Atrial Fibrillation After Kidney Transplant: An Observational Study Using USRDS Data.
Kidney Med 2024;
6:100741. [PMID:
38188456 PMCID:
PMC10770630 DOI:
10.1016/j.xkme.2023.100741]
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Abstract
Rationale & Objective
Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia and is increasing in prevalence. The prevalence of atrial fibrillation is high among patients receiving dialysis, affecting ∼21.3% of the patients receiving hemodialysis and 15.5% of those receiving peritoneal dialysis. The association of previous dialysis modality with incident atrial fibrillation in patients after receiving their first kidney transplant has not been studied.
Study Design
We used the United States Renal Data System to retrospectively identify adult, Medicare-insured patients who received their first kidney transplant between January 1, 2005, and September 30, 2012 and who had not previously been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.
Setting & Participants
The study included 43,621 patients who were aged 18 years older when receiving a first kidney transplant between January 1, 2005, and September 30, 2012 and whose primary payer was Medicare (parts A and B) at the time of transplantation and the 6 months preceding it.
Exposure
Dialysis modality used before transplant.
Outcome
Time to incidence of atrial fibrillation up to 3 years posttransplant.
Analytical Approach
Multivariable Cox regression was used to estimate HRs.
Results
Of 43,621 patients, 84.9% received hemodialysis and 15.1% received peritoneal dialysis before transplant. The mean ± SD age was 51 ± 13.6 years; 60.8% were male, 55.6% White, and 35.8% Black race. The mean dialysis vintage was 4.3 ± 2.8 years. Newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation after kidney transplant occurred in 286 patients (during 15,363 person-years) who had received peritoneal dialysis and in 2,315 patients (during 83,536 person-years) who had received hemodialysis. After multivariable adjustment, atrial fibrillation was 20% (95% CI, 4%-38%) more likely in those who had been receiving hemodialysis versus peritoneal dialysis, regardless of whether death was considered a competing risk or a censoring event. Each year of pretransplant dialysis vintage increased the risk of posttransplant atrial fibrillation by 6% (95% CI, 3%-9%).
Limitations
Residual confounding; data from billing claims does not specify the duration of atrial fibrillation or whether it is valvular.
Conclusions
Pretransplant hemodialysis, as compared with peritoneal dialysis, was associated with higher risk of newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation after a first kidney transplant.
Plain-Language Summary
New-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) occurs in 7% of kidney transplant recipients in the first 3 years posttransplantation. We conducted this study to determine whether pretransplant dialysis modality was associated with posttransplant AF. We identified 43,621 patients; 84.9% used hemodialysis and 15.1% used peritoneal dialysis pretransplant. Multivariable Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios. We found that patients receiving hemodialysis pretransplant were at 20% increased risk of developing posttransplant AF as compared with patients receiving peritoneal dialysis. As our understanding of transplant-specific risk factors for AF increases, we may be able to better risk-stratify transplant patients and develop monitoring and management strategies that can improve outcomes.
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