Obesity is undoubtedly among the most critical factors affecting AF. Epidemiological studies have identified obesity as an independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation, but this argument is still controversial. A recent Framingham prospective cohort study suggested that obesity is a risk factor for new-onset AF. Specifically, each 1-unit increase in body mass index (BMI) in men was associated with a 4% increase in AF risk. Compared to normal weight, the risk ratio for overweight people (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) is approximately 1.2, and for obese people (defined as BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), the risk ratio varies from 1.36-2.9, and men are higher than women. Tsang et al. further demonstrated that obesity promotes the progression from paroxysmal to persistent AF. Compared with normal BMI (18.5–24.9 kg/m2), the hazard ratios (HRs) for progression to persistent AF were 1.54 and 1.87 in obese (30–34.9 kg/m2) and severely obese (≥35 kg/m2) patients, respectively. Multiple subsequent studies further supported the potential of obesity to predict new-onset AF and influence the progression from paroxysmal to persistent AF. In the Framingham study, BMI was no longer associated with AF risk after the adjustment for left atrial diameter on echocardiography.
Author(s) Details:
Hongyang Shu,
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanism of Cardiologic Disorders, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China.
Jia Cheng,
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanism of Cardiologic Disorders, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China.
Na Li,
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanism of Cardiologic Disorders, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China.
Zixuan Zhang,
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanism of Cardiologic Disorders, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China.
Jiali Nie,
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanism of Cardiologic Disorders, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China.
Yizhong Peng,
Department of Orthopedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China.
Yan Wang,
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanism of Cardiologic Disorders, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China.
Dao Wen Wang,
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanism of Cardiologic Disorders, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China.
Ning Zhou,
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanism of Cardiologic Disorders, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430000, China.
