A systematic evaluation of the available evidence suggests similarities as well as important differences in the risk factors for incidence of AF as compared with other cardiovascular diseases , which has implication s for the primary prevention strategies for atrial fibrillation
Established primary prevention strategies of cardiovascular diseases are based on underst and ing of risk factors , but whether the same risk factors are associated with  atrial fibrillation ( AF )  remains unclear .
Interaction of Blood Pressure and Body Mass Index With Risk of Incident Atrial Fibrillation in a Japanese Urban Cohort: The Suita Study.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE To prevent stroke , strategies for atrial fibrillation ( AF ) prevention and an early detection of AF by electrocardiogram are essential . However , only a limited prospect i ve studies have examined the risk factors for AF , even in blood pressure ( BP ) and body mass index ( BMI ) , which are not clear among general population s. We investigated the impacts of BP and BMI on the risk of incident AF in a general population . METHODS A total of 6,906 participants ( 30 - 84 years ) in the Suita Study were prospect ively followed up for incident AF . Participants were diagnosed with AF if  AF or atrial flutter  was present on an electrocardiogram  from a routine health examination  ( every 2 years ) or if AF was indicated as a present illness from health examinations and /or medical records during follow-up . Adjusted Cox proportional hazard ratios ( HRs ) were calculated . RESULTS During the 12.8-year follow-up , 253 incident AF events occurred . Compared with the systolic BP ( SBP ) < 120 mm Hg and normal-weight , the adjusted HRs ( 95 % confidence intervals ; CIs ) of incident AF in the systolic hypertension and the overweight ( BMI ≥ 25kg/m(2 ) ) groups were 1.74 ( 1.22 - 2.49 ) and 1.35 ( 1.01 - 1.80 ) , respectively . Compared with SBP < 120 mm Hg and normal weight , the adjusted HRs ( 95 % CIs ) of incident AF in the SBP = 120 - 139 mm Hg with overweight and the systolic hypertension with normal or overweight were 1.72 ( 1.01 - 2.91 ) , 1.66 ( 1.10 - 2.50 ) , and 2.31 ( 1.47 - 3.65 ) , respectively ( P for interaction = 0.04 ) . CONCLUSIONS Systolic prehypertension and overweight are associated with incident AF  in Japanese population . The association between SBP and AF may be evident by overweight
A systematic evaluation of the available evidence suggests similarities as well as important differences in the risk factors for incidence of AF as compared with other cardiovascular diseases , which has implication s for the primary prevention strategies for atrial fibrillation
Established primary prevention strategies of cardiovascular diseases are based on underst and ing of risk factors , but whether the same risk factors are associated with  atrial fibrillation ( AF )  remains unclear .