Atrial fibrillation: 9 risk factors to watch out for

According to the estimates of the National Academy of Medicine, approximately 750,000 patients suffer from atrial fibrillation in France. This pathology, characterized by an acceleration of the heart and irregular beats, is the most common heart rhythm disorder.

Researchers from the University of Liverpool and the National College of Medicine at Seoul National University have joined forces to take stock of the risk factors for the condition, also known as atrial fibrillation. Their work was published in the February 2024 issue of the journal The Lancet Regional Health Europe.

Atrial fibrillation: 9 risk factors highlighted

To improve the understanding of atrial fibrillation (AF), the Anglo-Korean team carried out a meta-analysis of European and global data collected in recent years. Researchers have highlighted 9 risk factors to take into account and monitor during consultations with patients:

• Sedentary lifestyle: a sedentary lifestyle is a risk factor for the development of AF. Scientists state that high-intensity interval training improves functional capacity and quality of life in AF.
• Weight: obesity increases the risk of pathology. On the other hand, weight loss reduces the risk of recurrence as well as the symptoms.
• The alcohol : “there is a linear dose-response relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of AF”write the authors.
• Hypertension: This heart disorder is associated with a 1.7 to 2.5 times increased risk of AF. If this high blood pressure is treated with antihypertensive drugs, the risk drops again.
• Diabetes: this disease increases the risk of AF by 1.28 times.
• Heart attack: a history of myocardial infarction increases the risk of atrial fibrillation by 60 to 77%.
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: having COPD doubles the risk of developing the heart disorder.
• Gender: men have a prevalence of AF 30 to 70% higher than women. However, the lifetime risk of AF is similar.
• The origin: Westerners develop AF more often than people of South Asian and African origin.

Atrial fibrillation: individualized care is required

Dr Eduard Shantsila of the University of Liverpool, author of the study, recalls that atrial fibrillation can have several complications if it is not managed. “Modern anticoagulation treatments have significantly reduced the risk of stroke and systemic thromboembolism in people with AF. However, atrial fibrillation still impairs quality of life, increases the risk of stroke and heart failure. heart disease and is linked to cognitive disorders. We wanted to help address the need for a more complete understanding of the risk factors predisposing to the development of this arrhythmia, its complications and interventions aimed at mitigating these risks.”he explains in a communicated.

He hopes that his work, which has highlighted the needs of patients with comorbidities, will allow “a shift in practice towards a more individualized approach that takes into account an increasingly broad range of health and personal factors contributing to the burden of atrial fibrillation.”