Prevalence and Risk Factors of Atrioventricular Block in the Population: a Study Based on the Kailuan Cohort

Background Atrioventricular block (AVB) is associated with adverse outcomes in patients with cardiovascular diseases, and there is a relative scarcity of epidemiological data in China. Identifying and eliminating risk factors for AVB to prevent its occurrence is of great importance. Objective To explore the prevalence and risk factors of AVB in the Kailuan study population. Methods Participants who underwent health examinations from 2018 to 2020, consisting of employees and retirees of the Kailuan Group, were included as subjects of observation. General information, medical history, and medication history of the participants were collected. On the day of the physical examination, 5 mL of blood was drawn from the elbow vein after fasting for 8 hours for biochemical tests, and an electrocardiogram was conducted simultaneously. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the risk factors affecting AVB and to perform sensitivity analysis. Results A total of 80 859 subjects were included in the final observation, with an average age of (53.8±14.9) years. The prevalence of AVB was 0.97% (786/80 859), with a first-degree AVB prevalence of 0.91% (732/80 859) and a second-degree or higher AVB prevalence of 0.07% (54/80 859). The proportion of male, age, systolic pressure, fasting blood glucose, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, BMI, hypertension, diabetes, alcohol consumption, blood uric acid, medication use, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) was higher in AVB patients than in those without AVB, while diastolic pressure and heart rate was lower (P<0.05). Further, the study subjects were divided into three groups according to the presence and degree of AVB: no AVB group (n=80 073), first-degree AVB group (n=732), and second-degree or higher AVB group (n=54). The comparison of gender, age, heart rate, hypertension, BMI, diabetes, hyperuricemia, hyper-low-density lipoprotein, alcohol consumption, and ASCVD among the three groups showed statistically significant differences (P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression results showed that male gender, older age, hypertension, diabetes, hyper-low-density lipoprotein, hyperuricemia, Elevated BMI, and alcohol consumption were risk factors for AVB, while an increased heart rate was a protective factor for AVB (P<0.05) . Conclusion The prevalence of AVB in the Kailuan population is 0.97%, with older age, male gender, high BMI, hypertension, diabetes, hyper-low-density lipoprotein, hyperuricemia, and alcohol consumption being risk factors for AVB, and a high heart rate being a protective factor for AVB.