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 .
Big men and atrial fibrillation: effects of body size and weight gain on risk of atrial fibrillation in men.
AIMS Obesity is a recognized risk factor for  atrial fibrillation ( AF ) , partly because of the association between body mass index ( BMI ) and atrial volume . We aim ed to determine whether other factors relating to body size were related to AF . METHODS AND RESULTS Data were derived from a r and om population sample of 6903 men ( mean age 51.5 years ) who underwent a single midlife evaluation as part of the multifactor Swedish Primary Prevention Study . A total of 1253 men ( 18.2 % ) had a subsequent hospital discharge diagnosis ( principal or secondary ) of AF during a maximum follow-up of 34.3 years . Body surface area ( BSA ) at age 20 ( calculated from recalled weight and measured height ) was strongly related to subsequent AF ( P < 0.0001 ) , as were midlife BMI and weight gain from age 20 to midlife ( P < 0.0001 ) . In a Cox regression model which adjusted for midlife BMI , weight gain and other risk factors , hazard ratios ( HR ) [ 95 % confidence intervals ( CI ) ] for AF for the second , third , and fourth quartile of BSA at age 20 , compared with the lowest quartile , were 1.47 ( 95 % CI , 1.22 - 1.76 ) , 1.66 ( 95 % CI , 1.38 - 2.00 ) , and 2.22 ( 95 % CI , 1.82 - 2.70 ) ( P for trend < 0.0001 ) . CONCLUSION Large body size in youth , in an era when obesity was rare , as well as weight gain from age 20 to midlife , were both independently related to the development of AF . Given the current trends not only for obesity but also for height , a substantial increase in the incidence of AF is likely
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 .