Abstract 068: Associations Between Fish Oil Supplement Use or Plasma Omega-3 Levels with Risk for Atrial Fibrillation: The United Kingdom Biobank

Abstract

Background: Recent observational studies in the UK Biobank (UKBB) concluded that self-reported fish oil supplement (FOS) use is associated with an increased risk for incident atrial fibrillation (AF). This lies in contradiction with a globally representative meta-analysis, which found an inverse relationship between blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FAs) and risk of AF. The extent to which plasma levels of n-3 FAs are related to risk of AF in UKBB has yet to be reported. Objectives: We have leveraged data from the UKBB to 1) determine the relationship between plasma levels of n-3 FAs and incident AF and 2) to further explore the previously reported association between FOS use and incident AF. Methods: Within the UKBB, we identified 266,477 individuals with data on blood plasma n-3 FAs and relevant covariates, and 433,607 individuals with data on self-reported FOS use. The primary outcome was incident AF during the follow-up period (median 12.7y). Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% CIs) for FAs were computed continuously (per inter-quintile range [IQ 5 R]) and by quintile (Q). HRs were computed for dichotomous FOS use. Covariates included: age, sex, ethnicity, education, physical exercise, smoking, alcohol use, BMI, use of beta-blocker, drugs for hypertension or cholesterol, prevalent diabetes, CVD or heart failure, and plasma linoleic acid levels. Notably, in our analyses we adjusted for age as a continuous variable to more completely account for age-related ris…