Abstract 13889: The Influence of Depression on Dementia Risk in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract

Background: Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is a significant risk factor for multiple forms of dementia. Although late-life depression may be a manifestation of dementia, earlier-life depression is a risk factor for dementia. The influence of earlier-life depression in patients with AF as a risk factor for dementia is unknown. Methods: AF patients (January 1, 1990-August 8, 2016) with no history of dementia and at least 3 years of follow-up derived from the Intermountain Healthcare Registry were included. Patients were compared by the presence or absence of depression at baseline. The primary endpoints were the development of dementia (total)imer’s disease. Results: Among 132,703 AF patients, 19,757 (14.9%) had a history of depression. Of these, 10,044 (50.8%) had SSRI use prior to AF diagnosis. The mean time from depression diagnosis to AF diagnosis was 5.0±4.8 years. AF patients with a history of depression were younger, more often female, and had higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, and heart failure. Patients with depression had a significantly higher multivariable-adjusted risk of dementia at 3 years (HR: 1.74 (1.59, 1.90), p<0.0001) and 5 years (HR: 1.73 (1.61, 1.86), p<0.0001), independent of the length of time between depression and AF diagnosis. Landmark analysis showed patients with depression and AF have much higher rates of dementia after 3 years (HR 1.51 (1.40, 1.63), p<0.0001) and after 5 years (HR 1.47 (1.34, 1.61), p<0.0001), Figure. These relative risks with depression are greater than composite risks of AF and dementia alone (HR 1.36) derived from multiple population-based studies. Conclusions: Patients with a history of depression prior to AF diagnosis have much higher rates of dementia after the onset of the arrhythmia. The presence of earlier-life depression should be recognized as an important risk factor for dementia in AF patients and may represent a therapeutic target to lower risk of cognitive decline.