Five-year changes in weight and risk of atrial fibrillation in the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health Cohort

• Published in: European journal of preventive cardiology Vol. 31; no. 2; pp. 244 - 249
• Main Authors: Frederiksen, Tanja Charlotte, Christiansen, Morten Krogh, Benjamin, Emelia J, Overvad, Kim, Olsen, Anja, Dahm, Christina Catherine, Jensen, Henrik Kjærulf
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: US Oxford University Press 25-01-2024
• Subjects: Atrial Fibrillation - diagnosis; Atrial Fibrillation - epidemiology; Atrial Fibrillation - etiology; Body Mass Index; Denmark - epidemiology; Diet; Female; Full Research Paper; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms - complications; Neoplasms - diagnosis; Neoplasms - epidemiology; Risk Factors; Weight Gain; Weight Loss; Denmark; Obesity; Lifestyle modification; Epidemiology; Atrial fibrillation; Cohort study
• ISSN: 2047-4873; 2047-4881; 2047-4881
• DOI: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwad300

Abstract
Aims
Obesity is a major risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF). Compared with stable weight, gaining weight was associated with a higher risk of incident AF in observational studies. The results, however, are conflicting regarding weight loss and risk of AF. This study aimed to assess the association between 5-year weight changes and risk of incident AF.
Methods and results
The study was based on participants from the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health Cohort. Body mass index (BMI) was assessed at a baseline examination and at a second examination 5 years later. Diagnoses of AF and co-morbidities were retrieved from the Danish National Patient Registry. In total, 43 758 participants without prior AF were included. The median age was 61 years and 54% were female. During a median follow-up of 15.7 years, 5312 individuals had incident AF (incidence rate 8.6/1000 person-years). Compared with stable weight, weight gain between 2.5 and 5 BMI units (kg/m2) was associated with a higher risk of AF [hazard ratio (HR) 1.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09–1.41]. Weight gain of 5 or more BMI units (kg/m2) was associated with a HR of 1.95 (95% CI 1.48–2.56) of incident AF. However, there was no statistically significant association between weight loss and risk of AF.
Conclusion
Five-year weight gain was associated with greater risk of AF compared with stable weight in the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health Cohort. There was no statistically significant association between weight loss and risk of AF.
Lay Summary
We sought to understand the association between 5-year changes in weight and the future risk of atrial fibrillation, a common heart rhythm disturbance.
Overweight, obesity, and underweight were associated with a higher risk of atrial fibrillation compared with normal weight.Gaining weight over a period of 5 years was associated with a higher risk of atrial fibrillation compared with maintaining a stable weight.
Graphical Abstract
Graphical Abstract