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Body size and risk of atrial fibrillation : A cohort study of 1.1 million young men

Andersen, K. ; Rasmussen, F. LU ; Neovius, M. ; Tynelius, P. and Sundström, J. (2018) In Journal of Internal Medicine 283(4). p.346-355
Abstract

Background: Whilst tall stature has been related to lower risk of vascular disease, it has been proposed as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation. Little is known about other anthropometric measures and their joint effects on risk of atrial fibrillation. Objectives: We aim to investigate associations and potential joint effects of height, weight, body surface area (BSA) and body mass index (BMI) with risk of atrial fibrillation. Methods: In a cohort covering 1 153 151 18-year-old men participating in the Swedish military conscription (1972-1995), Cox regression was used to investigate associations of height, weight, BSA and BMI with risk of atrial fibrillation. Results: During a median of 26.3 years of follow-up, higher height was... (More)

Background: Whilst tall stature has been related to lower risk of vascular disease, it has been proposed as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation. Little is known about other anthropometric measures and their joint effects on risk of atrial fibrillation. Objectives: We aim to investigate associations and potential joint effects of height, weight, body surface area (BSA) and body mass index (BMI) with risk of atrial fibrillation. Methods: In a cohort covering 1 153 151 18-year-old men participating in the Swedish military conscription (1972-1995), Cox regression was used to investigate associations of height, weight, BSA and BMI with risk of atrial fibrillation. Results: During a median of 26.3 years of follow-up, higher height was associated with higher risk of atrial fibrillation (hazard ratio [HR] 2.80; 95% CI 2.63-2.98; for 5th vs. 1st quintile) and so was larger BSA (HR 3.05; 95% CI 2.82-3.28; for 5th vs. 1st quintile). Higher weight and BMI were to a lesser extent associated with risk of atrial fibrillation (BMI: 1.42; 95% CI 1.33-1.52, for 5th vs. 1st quintile). We found a multiplicative joint effect of height and weight. Adjusting for muscle strength, exercise capacity and diseases related to atrial fibrillation attenuated these measures. Conclusions: Higher height and weight are strongly associated with higher risk of atrial fibrillation. These associations are multiplicative and independent of each other and are summarized in a strong association of body surface area with risk of atrial fibrillation. The mechanisms remain unknown but may involve increased atrial volume load with larger body size.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Atrial fibrillation, Body mass Index, Body surface area, Height, Weight
in
Journal of Internal Medicine
volume
283
issue
4
pages
346 - 355
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:85038937679
  • pmid:29178512
ISSN
0954-6820
DOI
10.1111/joim.12717
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ebccfbf6-0184-4356-b0c2-f7a11c5a1213
date added to LUP
2018-01-23 13:16:29
date last changed
2024-06-24 08:51:08
@article{ebccfbf6-0184-4356-b0c2-f7a11c5a1213,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Whilst tall stature has been related to lower risk of vascular disease, it has been proposed as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation. Little is known about other anthropometric measures and their joint effects on risk of atrial fibrillation. Objectives: We aim to investigate associations and potential joint effects of height, weight, body surface area (BSA) and body mass index (BMI) with risk of atrial fibrillation. Methods: In a cohort covering 1 153 151 18-year-old men participating in the Swedish military conscription (1972-1995), Cox regression was used to investigate associations of height, weight, BSA and BMI with risk of atrial fibrillation. Results: During a median of 26.3 years of follow-up, higher height was associated with higher risk of atrial fibrillation (hazard ratio [HR] 2.80; 95% CI 2.63-2.98; for 5th vs. 1st quintile) and so was larger BSA (HR 3.05; 95% CI 2.82-3.28; for 5th vs. 1st quintile). Higher weight and BMI were to a lesser extent associated with risk of atrial fibrillation (BMI: 1.42; 95% CI 1.33-1.52, for 5th vs. 1st quintile). We found a multiplicative joint effect of height and weight. Adjusting for muscle strength, exercise capacity and diseases related to atrial fibrillation attenuated these measures. Conclusions: Higher height and weight are strongly associated with higher risk of atrial fibrillation. These associations are multiplicative and independent of each other and are summarized in a strong association of body surface area with risk of atrial fibrillation. The mechanisms remain unknown but may involve increased atrial volume load with larger body size.</p>}},
  author       = {{Andersen, K. and Rasmussen, F. and Neovius, M. and Tynelius, P. and Sundström, J.}},
  issn         = {{0954-6820}},
  keywords     = {{Atrial fibrillation; Body mass Index; Body surface area; Height; Weight}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{346--355}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Journal of Internal Medicine}},
  title        = {{Body size and risk of atrial fibrillation : A cohort study of 1.1 million young men}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/joim.12717}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/joim.12717}},
  volume       = {{283}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}