Independent risk factors for atrial fibrillation in a population-based cohort. The Framingham Heart Study

2012 HRS/EHRA/ECAS Expert Consensus Statement on Catheter and Surgical Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: Recommendations for Patient Selection, Procedural Techniques, Patient Management and Follow-up, Definitions, Endpoints, and Research Trial Design

“…5,7 Some of these risk factors are modifiable, including hypertension, obesity, endurance exercise, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), thyroid disease, and alcohol consumption, whereas many others are not. 5,7,9,10,11 Nonmodifiable risk factors include age, sex, family history, race, tall stature, and other types of heart and valvular disease. 5,7 Among the many risk factors for development of AF, age is perhaps the most powerful.…”

“…5,7 Among the many risk factors for development of AF, age is perhaps the most powerful. 8,9 The relative risks (RRs) of AF development associated with a number of risk factors are provided in a recent systematic review. 12 It is rare to develop AF prior to age 50; and by age 80, approximately 10% of individuals are diagnosed with AF.…”

“…The precise pathophysiological basis of this link between AF and age is not completely understood; however, age-related fibrosis likely plays a key role. 9 AF risk factors have also been shown to be of value in predicting progression of paroxysmal to persistent AF. 13 It is notable that many of the risk factors that have been associated with development of AF also contribute to AF progression, recurrences of AF following ablation, and complications associated with AF (e.g., stroke).…”

Safety and efficacy of oral anticoagulation therapy in Chinese patients with concomitant atrial fibrillation and hypertension

“…1,2 In the general population, the risk of developing AF in patients with hypertension is 1.9 and 1.4 times higher than normotensive subjects in the Framingham 3 and Manitoba 4 studies, respectively. Although the absolute risk of developing AF among hypertensive patients is low, hypertension per se remains a major risk factor for AF because of its high prevalence in the general population.…”

Is Achieving the American Heart Association's Life Simple 7 Goals Sufficient to Reduce the Burden of Atrial Fibrillation? No Simple Answers

“…In this landmark report, the panel listed investigating the role that engaging in healthy behaviors could have on AF prevention as a research priority. More than 2 decades ago, the Framingham Heart Study established age, hypertension, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, and type 2 diabetes mellitus as independent risk factors for the development of AF 2. The past decade has witnessed steady progress in our understanding of the role of modifiable risk factors, such as obesity, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), metabolic syndrome, and excess alcohol intake, in the pathogenesis of AF 3.…”