Atrial fibrillation (AFib), which affects more than 33 million people worldwide, is a common, abnormal heart rhythm.
It is an irregular and often rapid heartbeat that can lead to stroke, heart failure, and other complications.
There are a number of clinical risk factors for developing AFib, including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
In a recent study presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions, researchers found that taller people have an increased risk of developing AFib.
The research reveals a strong link between the genetic variants associated with height and one’s risk for AFib. It is among the first to show that height may be a causal risk factor for AFib.
The study is from Penn Medicine. One author is Michael Levin, MD.
Previous studies have found that taller people appear to have a higher risk of developing AFib. However, questions exist about whether height can cause AFib, or if it’s just a common, insignificant factor.
In the study, the team used data from more than 700,000 individuals to identify genetic variants associated with height.
They also examined data from more than 500,000 individuals to identify genetic variants associated with AFib.
The team found that the risk for AFib climbed as one’s height increased, with every one-inch increase in height translating to about a three percent increase in the risk of Afib—independent of other clinical factors—as compared to those at average height (5 feet and 7 inches).
Their analysis showed that genetic variants associated with height were also strongly associated with Afib, suggesting that increased height may be a cause of atrial fibrillation.
The team says it may be beneficial to incorporate height into risk-prediction tools for AFib.
While current guidelines advise against widespread screening for AFib, the findings show that a certain group of patients—specifically, very tall patients—may benefit from screening.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about this heart problem may increase your dementia risk and findings of why statins may be not enough to prevent heart disease.
For more information about heart disease, please see recent studies about cholesterol in eggs may increase heart disease, death risk and results showing that you can do these 4 things to reduce inflammation, prevent heart disease.
Copyright © 2021 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
