Influenza Infection, Newly Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation, and One-Year Mortality in Hospitalized Adults: A Retrospective Cohort Study
- 1Internal Medicine Division, Soroka University Medical Center, Be’er-Sheva 8410101, Israel
- 2Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er-Sheva 8410501, Israel
- 3Management Department, Jerusalem Multidisciplinary College, Jerusalem 9101001, Israel
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Whether influenza increases the risk of newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation (NDAF) beyond the effect of acute illness is uncertain. We examined whether viral etiology and prior influenza vaccination (exposures) were associated with NDAF within one year (primary outcome), and whether NDAF was associated with one-year all-cause mortality (secondary outcome), in hospitalized adults. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 21,653 adults hospitalized in Clalit Health Services facilities (2012–2020) who underwent respiratory-virus PCR testing: influenza A (n = 2829), influenza B (n = 992), other respiratory viruses (n = 561), and PCR-negative concurrent controls (n = 17,271). NDAF within 365 days was analyzed with cause-specific Cox and Fine–Gray models, including time windows; mortality with time-dependent Cox models; and vaccination with propensity score matching. Results: NDAF was recorded in 1228 patients (5.7%), 56% of them on the day of admission. Compared with PCR-negative patients, no viral etiology was associated with a higher hazard of NDAF (influenza A: HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.73–1.04; influenza B: HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.53–1.00), including within 30 days and after excluding day-0 events. NDAF was associated with higher one-year mortality (HR 1.68, 95% CI 1.52–1.87), especially when recorded after discharge (HR 3.04). Influenza vaccination was not associated with NDAF (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.85–1.10). Conclusions: Among hospitalized adults tested for respiratory viruses, neither influenza nor prior vaccination was associated with NDAF compared with PCR-negative inpatients, who were not necessarily of similar acute illness severity. NDAF marked a higher hazard of one-year mortality.
Related
- Active Helicobacter pylori Infection and Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Hospitalized With Acute Myocardial Infarction
- Age-related clinical characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus infection in hospitalized children: a retrospective study
- Association between nursing assessment indicators and adverse outcomes in hospitalized patients with atrial fibrillation : A retrospective observational study
- Influenza-associated acute respiratory deterioration fulfilling acute exacerbation criteria in hospitalized patients with interstitial lung disease: a single-center retrospective cohort study
- Association of Peak Expiratory Flow with Pulmonary Fungal Infection in Hospitalized Patients with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.
BibTeX
@article{sonkin2026influenza,
title = {{Influenza Infection, Newly Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation, and One-Year Mortality in Hospitalized Adults: A Retrospective Cohort Study}},
author = {Roman Sonkin and Anna Khalemsky and Carmi Bartal},
journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3390/jcm15218608},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/21/8608},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Influenza Infection, Newly Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation, and One-Year Mortality in Hospitalized Adults: A Retrospective Cohort Study
AU - Roman Sonkin
AU - Anna Khalemsky
AU - Carmi Bartal
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/05
JO - Journal of Clinical Medicine
DO - 10.3390/jcm15218608
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/21/8608
AB - Background/Objectives: Whether influenza increases the risk of newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation (NDAF) beyond the effect of acute illness is uncertain. We examined whether viral etiology and prior influenza vaccination (exposures) were associated with NDAF within one year (primary outcome), and whether NDAF was associated with one-year all-cause mortality (secondary outcome), in hospitalized adults. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 21,653 adults hospitalized in Clalit Health Services facilities (2012–2020) who underwent respiratory-virus PCR testing: influenza A (n = 2829), influenza B (n = 992), other respiratory viruses (n = 561), and PCR-negative concurrent controls (n = 17,271). NDAF within 365 days was analyzed with cause-specific Cox and Fine–Gray models, including time windows; mortality with time-dependent Cox models; and vaccination with propensity score matching. Results: NDAF was recorded in 1228 patients (5.7%), 56% of them on the day of admission. Compared with PCR-negative patients, no viral etiology was associated with a higher hazard of NDAF (influenza A: HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.73–1.04; influenza B: HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.53–1.00), including within 30 days and after excluding day-0 events. NDAF was associated with higher one-year mortality (HR 1.68, 95% CI 1.52–1.87), especially when recorded after discharge (HR 3.04). Influenza vaccination was not associated with NDAF (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.85–1.10). Conclusions: Among hospitalized adults tested for respiratory viruses, neither influenza nor prior vaccination was associated with NDAF compared with PCR-negative inpatients, who were not necessarily of similar acute illness severity. NDAF marked a higher hazard of one-year mortality.
SN - 2077-0383
ER -