Steroids linked to atrial fibrillation

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A new study suggests that high dose steroid therapy may be linked to atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm disorder.
Corticosteroids are often used in the treatment of asthma, arthritis, allergies and other conditions. They've been linked previously, to atrial fibrillation (AF), in case reports. Researchers at Erasmus University Medical Center now back up this association with a study of nearly 8,000 individuals aged 55 or older who were followed till they developed AF or until death.

They were able to analyze 435 cases of AF and found that the risk of developing the condition was six times higher among those who had received a prescription for high-dose corticosteroids in the previous month. This was in comparison with those who had never been on steroids. The researchers say there are various ways in which steroids can impact on heart function. AF is potentially serious, as it increases the risk of stroke. Therefore, patients on steroids need careful monitoring - performing an electrocardiogram before and after giving high doses might be a good idea.

Source
Archives of Internal Medicine 8th May 2006 Volume 166 pages 1016-1020