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 .
The long- and short-term impact of elevated body mass index on the risk of new atrial fibrillation the WHS (women's health study).
OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to characterize the relationship between changes in  body mass index ( BMI ) and incident atrial fibrillation ( AF ) in a large cohort of women . BACKGROUND Obesity and AF are increasing public health problems . The importance of dynamic obesity-associated AF risk is uncertain , and mediators are not well characterized . METHODS Cases of AF were confirmed by medical record review in 34,309 participants in the Women 's Health Study . Baseline and up date d measures of  BMI  were obtained from periodic question naires . RESULTS During 12.9 + /- 1.9 years of follow-up , 834 AF events were confirmed . BMI was linearly associated with AF risk , with a 4.7 % ( 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] : 3.4 to 6.1 , p < 0.0001 ) increase in risk with each kilogram per square meter . Adjustment for inflammatory markers minimally attenuated this risk . When up date d measures of BMI were used to estimate dynamic risk , overweight ( hazard ratio [ HR ] : 1.22 ; 95 % CI : 1.02 to 1.45 , p = 0.03 ) , and obesity ( HR : 1.65 ; 95 % CI : 1.36 to 2.00 ; p < 0.0001 ) were associated with adjusted short-term increases in AF risk . Participants becoming obese during the first 60 months had a 41 % adjusted increase in risk of the development of AF ( p = 0.02 ) compared with those maintaining BMI < 30 kg/m(2 ) . The prevalence of overweight and obesity increased over time . The adjusted proportion of incident AF attributable to short-term elevations in BMI was substantial ( 18.3 % ) . CONCLUSIONS In this population of apparently healthy women , BMI was associated with short- and long-term increases in AF risk , accounting for a large proportion of incident AF independent of traditional risk factors . A strategy of weight control may reduce the increasing incidence of AF . ( Women 's Health Study [ WHS ] : A R and omized Trial of Low-Dose Aspirin and Vitamin E in the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer ; NCT00000479 )
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 .