Hazard ratios for incident atrial fibrillation according to drinker status with never drinkers as the reference group.

<p>Hazard ratios are shown unadjusted (white square) and adjusted (black square) for study site, age, sex, race, body mass index, smoking status, cigarette years, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, and heart failure. Y error bars denote 95% confidence intervals.</p

Baseline characteristics in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study by drinking status.

<p>Baseline characteristics in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study by drinking status.</p

Summary of alcohol consumption patterns among former drinkers (N = 2,886) stratified by the development of incident atrial fibrillation.

<p>Values are reported as medians for numeric responses. Y error bars denote interquartile ranges.</p

Risk of incident atrial fibrillation according to past alcohol consumption among former drinkers (N = 2,886).

<p>Risk of incident atrial fibrillation according to past alcohol consumption among former drinkers (N = 2,886).</p

Kaplan-Meier curves for incident atrial fibrillation (AF) in Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study participants by baseline drinking status.

<p>Differences in proportions with and without AF are compared using the log-rank test.</p

Association of total, animal and vegetal protein intake with coronary heart disease incidence, ARIC 1987–2010.

<p>Association of total, animal and vegetal protein intake with coronary heart disease incidence, ARIC 1987–2010.</p

Food substitution analysis.

<p>Food substitution analysis.</p

Association of major dietary protein sources with coronary heart disease, ARIC 1987–2010.

<p>Association of major dietary protein sources with coronary heart disease, ARIC 1987–2010.</p

Unadjusted baseline characteristics according to quintiles of total protein intake, ARIC 1987–1989.

<p>Unadjusted baseline characteristics according to quintiles of total protein intake, ARIC 1987–1989.</p

Low Heart Rate Variability in a 2-Minute Electrocardiogram Recording Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death in the General Population: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

<div><p>Low heart rate variability (HRV) has been linked to increased total mortality in the general population; however, the relationship between low HRV and sudden cardiac death (SCD) is less well-characterized. The goal of this study was to evaluate the relationship between low HRV and SCD in a community-based cohort. Our cohort consisted of 12,543 participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. HRV measures were derived from 2-minute electrocardiogram recordings obtained during the baseline exam (1987–89). Time domain measurements included the standard deviation of all normal RR intervals (SDNN) and the root mean squared successive difference (r-MSSD). Frequency domain measurements included low frequency power (LF) and high frequency (HF) power. During a median follow-up of 13 years, 215 SCDs were identified from physician adjudication of all coronary heart disease deaths through 2001. In multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazards models, each standard deviation decrement in SDNN, LF, and HF were associated with 24%, 27% and 16% increase in SCD risk, respectively. Low HRV is independently associated with increased risk of SCD in the general population.</p></div