{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.058265582655826556, 'fraction_numerical': 0.03590785907859079, 'mean_word_length': 4.531835205992509, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Atrial fibrillation and dementia: results from the Sao Paulo ageing & health study.

BACKGROUND
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a controversial risk factor for dementia.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to assess the association between AF and dementia in the "Sao Paulo Ageing & Health" (SPAH) study participants.


METHODS
SPAH is a cross-sectional, population-based study of elderly people living in a deprived neighborhood in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Dementia diagnosis was performed according to the 10/66 study group protocol based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria. Diagnosis of AF was made using a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) recording, which was assessed by two cardiologists. Data on demographics and cardiovascular risk factors were also obtained.


RESULTS
Dementia was diagnosed in 66 (4.3%) and AF in 36 (2.4%) of 1,524 participants with a valid ECG. The crude odds ratio (OR) for dementia in participants with AF was 2.8 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0-8.1; p=0.06) compared with individuals without AF. When analyzing data according to sex, a positive relationship was found in women (OR 4.2; 95% CI: 1.24-15.1; p=0.03). After age-adjustment, however, this association was no longer significant (OR 2.2; 95% CI: 0.6-8.9; p=0.26).


CONCLUSION
There was no independent association between AF and dementia in this sample. The prevalence of AF may be low in this population owing to premature cardiovascular death.