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 .
Overweight and obesity as risk factors for atrial fibrillation or flutter: the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health Study.
PURPOSE We examined the association between the body mass index analyzed as a continuous variable and by categorization according to World Health Organization criteria ( normal weight , overweight and obesity ) and the risk of a hospital ( inpatient as well as outpatient ) diagnosis of atrial fibrillation or flutter . METHODS Population -based prospect i ve cohort study conducted from December 1993 to December 2001 among 47589 participants ( 22482 men and 25107 women ) without preexisting cardiovascular or endocrine disease and with a mean age at baseline of 56 years ( range 50 - 64 years ) in the Danish Diet , Cancer , and Health Study . Subjects were followed up in the Danish National Registry of Patients and in the Danish Civil Registration System . RESULTS During follow-up ( mean , 5.7 years ) atrial fibrillation or flutter developed in 553 subjects ( 372 men and 181 women ) . The adjusted hazard ratio for atrial fibrillation or flutter per unit of increase in the body mass index was 1.08 ( 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] : 1.05 to 1.11 ) in men and 1.06 ( 95 % CI : 1.03 to 1.09 ) in women . When using normal weight as a reference , the adjusted hazard ratio for atrial fibrillation or flutter by overweight was 1.75 ( 95 % CI : 1.35 to 2.27 ) in men and 1.39 ( 95 % CI : 0.99 to 1.94 ) in women . The adjusted hazard ratio by obesity was 2.35 ( 95 % CI : 1.70 to 3.25 ) in men and 1.99 ( 95 % CI : 1.31 to 3.02 ) in women . CONCLUSION Overweight and obesity are associated with an increased risk of a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation or flutter
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 .