Longitudinal cardiac imaging for assessment of myocardial injury in non-hospitalised community-dwelling individuals after COVID-19 infection: the Rotterdam Study.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the presence of myocardial injury after COVID-19 infection and to evaluate the relation between persistent cardiac symptoms after COVID-19 and myocardial function in participants with known cardiovascular health status before infection.

Methods: In the prospective population-based Rotterdam Study cohort, echocardiography and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) were performed among participants who recovered from COVID-19 at home within 2 years prior to inclusion in the current study. Persistent cardiac symptoms comprised only self-reported symptoms of chest pain, dyspnoea or palpitations lasting >4 weeks after COVID-19 infection.

Arteriosclerotic Calcification and Atrial Fibrillation in the General Population: The Rotterdam Study.

Limited population-based data on the gender differences and association between arteriosclerotic calcification at different sites and atrial fibrillation (AF) exist. We aimed to investigate the (gender-specific) associations between arteriosclerotic calcification at different sites with the risk of AF in the general population. Arteriosclerotic calcification was quantified using computed tomography examinations between 2003 and 2006 in 2,259 participants free of AF from the population-based Rotterdam Study.

Antihypertensive Drugs for the Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation: A Drug Target Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background: We investigated the potential impact of antihypertensive drugs for atrial fibrillation (AF) prevention through a drug target Mendelian randomization study to avoid the potential limitations of clinical studies.

Methods: Validated published single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that mimic the action of 12 antihypertensive drug classes, including alpha-adrenoceptor blockers, adrenergic neuron blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin-II receptor blockers, beta-adrenoceptor blockers, centrally acting antihypertensive drugs, calcium channel blockers, loop diuretics, potassium-sparing diuretics and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, renin inhibitors, thiazides and related diuretic agents, and vasodilators were used. We estimated, via their corresponding gene and protein targets, the downstream effect of these drug classes to prevent AF via systolic blood pressure using 2-sample Mendelian randomization analyses.

Burden of cardiometabolic disorders and lifetime risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation among men and women: the Rotterdam Study.

Aims: To examine the association between the burden of cardiometabolic disorders with new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) and lifetime risk of AF incidence among men and women.

Methods And Results: Four thousand one hundred and one men and 5421 women free of AF at baseline (1996-2008) from the population-based Rotterdam Study were included. Sex-specific Cox proportional-hazards regression models were used to assess the association between the burden of cardiometabolic disorders and risk of new-onset AF.

Circulating metabolites associated with kidney function decline and incident CKD: a multi-platform population-based study.

Background: Investigation of circulating metabolites associated with kidney function and chronic kidney disease (CKD) risk could enhance our understanding of underlying pathways and identify new biomarkers for kidney function.

Methods: We selected participants from the population-based Rotterdam Study with data on circulating metabolites and estimated glomerular filtration rate based on serum creatinine (eGFRcreat) available at the same time point. Data on eGFR based on serum cystatin C (eGFRcys) and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) were also included.

Electrocardiographic parameters and the risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation in the general population: the Rotterdam Study.

Aims: We aimed to assess the (shape of the) association and sex differences in the link between electrocardiographic parameters and new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods And Results: A total of 12 212 participants free of AF at baseline from the population-based Rotterdam Study were included. Up to five repeated measurements of electrocardiographic parameters including PR, QRS, QT, QT corrected for heart rate (QTc), JT, RR interval, and heart rate were assessed at baseline and follow-up examinations.

Heart Rate Variability and Incident Type 2 Diabetes in General Population.

Context: Hyperglycemia and autonomic dysfunction are bidirectionally related.

Objective: We investigated the association of longitudinal evolution of heart rate variability (HRV) with incident type 2 diabetes (T2D) among the general population.

Methods: We included 7630 participants (mean age 63.

Imaging-based body fat depots and new-onset atrial fibrillation in general population: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Obesity is a well-established risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF). Whether body fat depots differentially associate with AF development remains unknown.

Methods: In the prospective population-based Rotterdam Study, body composition was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and liver and epicardial fat using computed tomography (CT).

Association Between Sex-Specific Risk Factors and Risk of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation Among Women.

Importance: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia worldwide, with different epidemiological and pathophysiological processes for women vs men and a poorer prognosis for women. Further investigation of sex-specific risk factors associated with AF development in women is warranted.

Objective: To investigate the linear and potential nonlinear associations between sex-specific risk factors and the risk of new-onset AF in women.

Heart rate variability and atrial fibrillation in the general population: a longitudinal and Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Sex differences and causality of the association between heart rate variability (HRV) and atrial fibrillation (AF) in the general population remain unclear.

Methods: 12,334 participants free of AF from the population-based Rotterdam Study were included. Measures of HRV including the standard deviation of normal RR intervals (SDNN), SDNN corrected for heart rate (SDNNc), RR interval differences (RMSSD), RMSSD corrected for heart rate (RMSSDc), and heart rate were assessed at baseline and follow-up examinations.

Atrial fibrillation patterns and their cardiovascular risk profiles in the general population: the Rotterdam study.

Background: Clinical guidelines categorize atrial fibrillation (AF) based on the temporality of AF events. Due to its dependence on event duration, this classification is not applicable to population-based cohort settings. We aimed to develop a simple and standardized method to classify AF patterns at population level.

The association of coagulation and atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: While atrial fibrillation (AF) is suggested to induce a prothrombotic state, increasing thrombotic risk, it is also hypothesized that coagulation underlies AF onset. However, conclusive evidence is lacking. With this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to summarize and combine the evidence on the associations between coagulation factors with AF in both longitudinal and cross-sectional studies.

Perspectives on Sex- and Gender-Specific Prediction of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation by Leveraging Big Data.

Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, has a large impact on quality of life and is associated with increased risk of hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality. Over the past two decades advances regarding the clinical epidemiology and management of AF have been established. Moreover, sex differences in the prevalence, incidence, prediction, pathophysiology, and prognosis of AF have been identified.

Longitudinal Anthropometric Measures and Risk of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation Among Community-Dwelling Men and Women.

Objective: To assess the sex-specific evolution of various anthropometric measures and the association of their longitudinal trajectories with new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: Among 5266 men and 7218 women free of AF at baseline from the prospective population-based Rotterdam Study, each anthropometric measure was measured 1 to 5 times from 1989 to 2014. Anthropometric measures were standardized to obtain hazard ratios per 1 SD increase to enable comparison.

Bidirectional Association Between Kidney Function and Atrial Fibrillation: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background Consensus lacks concerning a bidirectional association between kidney function and atrial fibrillation (AF), but this is crucial information for prevention/treatment efforts for both chronic kidney disease and AF. Therefore, we investigated the bidirectional association between kidney function and AF. Methods and Results This study was a prospective cohort study including 9228 participants (mean age, 64.

Sex-specific anthropometric and blood pressure trajectories and risk of incident atrial fibrillation: the Rotterdam Study.

Aims: To investigate sex-specific longitudinal trajectories of various obesity-related measures and blood pressure at the population level and further assess the impact of these trajectories on new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods And Results: Participants with ≥2 repeated assessments for various risk factors from the population-based Rotterdam Study were included. Latent class linear mixed models were fitted to identify the potential classes.

Disentangling the association between kidney function and atrial fibrillation: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

Background: The potential bidirectional causal association between kidney function and atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unclear.

Methods: We conducted a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. From multiple genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we retrieved genetic variants associated with kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate based on creatinine (eGFRcreat), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), chronic kidney disease (CKD stage ≥G3): n = 1,045,620, eGFR based on cystatin C: n = 24,063-32,861, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), and microalbuminuria: n = 564,257), and AF (n = 1,030,836).

Heart rate variability is associated with left ventricular systolic, diastolic function and incident heart failure in the general population.

Background: HRV has mostly shown associations with systolic dysfunction and more recently, with diastolic dysfunction in Heart failure (HF) patients. But the role of sympathetic nervous system in changes of left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function and new-onset HF has not been extensively studied.

Methods: Among 3157 men and 4405 women free of HF and atrial fibrillation retrospectively included from the population-based Rotterdam Study, we used linear mixed models to examine associations of RR-interval differences and standard deviation of RR-intervals corrected for heart rate (RMSSDc and SDNNc) with longitudinal changes of LV ejection fraction (LVEF), E/A ratio, left atrial (LA) diameter, E/e' ratio.

Circulatory MicroRNAs in Plasma and Atrial Fibrillation in the General Population: The Rotterdam Study.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNAs regulating gene expression, have been shown to play an important role in cardiovascular disease. However, limited population-based data regarding the relationship between circulatory miRNAs in plasma and atrial fibrillation (AF) exist. Moreover, it remains unclear if the relationship differs by sex.

Subclinical Measures of Peripheral Atherosclerosis and the Risk of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation in the General Population: the Rotterdam Study.

Background Limited population-based data on the (sex-specific) link between subclinical measures of peripheral atherosclerosis and new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) exist. Methods and Results Subclinical measures of peripheral atherosclerosis including carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), carotid plaque, and ankle-brachial index (ABI) were assessed at baseline and follow-up examinations. A total of 12 840 participants free of AF at baseline from the population-based Rotterdam Study were included.

Immunothrombosis and new-onset atrial fibrillation in the general population: the Rotterdam Study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common age-related cardiac arrhythmia. The etiology underlying AF is still largely unknown. At the intersection of the innate immune system and hemostasis, immunothrombosis may be a possible cause of atrial remodeling, and therefore be an underlying cause of AF.

Design, implementation and initial findings of COVID-19 research in the Rotterdam Study: leveraging existing infrastructure for population-based investigations on an emerging disease.

The Rotterdam Study is an ongoing prospective, population-based cohort study that started in 1989 in the city of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The study aims to unravel etiology, preclinical course, natural history and potential targets for intervention for chronic diseases in mid-life and late-life. It focuses on cardiovascular, endocrine, hepatic, neurological, ophthalmic, psychiatric, dermatological, otolaryngological, locomotor, and respiratory diseases.