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 .
Physical Activity, Obesity, Weight Change, and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study
Background —Physical activity ( PA ) has previously been suggested to attenuate the risk of atrial fibrillation ( AF ) conferred by excess body weight and weight gain . We prospect ively examined the relationship between body size , weight change , and level of PA in a biracial cohort of middle-aged men and women . Methods and Results —Baseline characteristics on risk factor levels were obtained on 14 219 participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study . AF incidence was ascertained from 1987 to 2009 . Adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the associations between body mass index , waist circumference , relative weight change , and PA level with incident AF . During follow-up , there were 1775 cases of incident AF . Body mass index and waist circumference were positively associated with AF as was weight loss/gain of > 5 % initial body weight . An ideal level of PA had a small protective effect on AF risk and partially attenuated the risk of AF associated with excess weight in men but not women : compared with men with a normal body mass index , the risk of AF in obese men with an ideal , intermediate , and poor level of PA at baseline was increased by 37 % , 129 % , and 156 % ( Pinteraction=0.04 ) . During follow-up , PA did not modify the association between weight gain and risk of AF . Conclusions —Obesity and extreme weight change are risk factors for incident AF , whereas being physically active is associated with a small reduction in risk . In men only , being physically active offset some , but not all , of the risk incurred with excess body weight
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 .