Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Association between modifiable risk factors and bradyarrhythmia: A Mendelian randomization study
Authors' conclusion
This study identified distinct modifiable metabolic and lifestyle factors that are causally associated with different types of bradyarrhythmia.
Study context
- Population
- European-ancestry genome-wide association study summary data
- Comparison
- Genetically determined modifiable risk factors and bradyarrhythmia risk
- Outcome
- Bradyarrhythmia (sick sinus syndrome, conduction disorders)
Methodological detailsunivariable, multivariable and mediation Mendelian randomization (MR), Bonferroni-corrected threshold (Padj <0.0023)
- Univariable, multivariable and mediation MR
- Bonferroni-corrected threshold (Padj <0.0023)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Discovery datasets
Odds ratio (95% CI)
BMIsick sinus syndrome; suggestive
1.19(1.06–1.34)
BMIconduction disorders; significant
1.27(1.17–1.39)
SBPconduction disorders; significant
1.43(1.26–1.63)
DBPconduction disorders; significant
1.23(1.08–1.40)
Lipoprotein aconduction disorders; significant
1.10(1.04–1.16)
Further findings
Conduction disorder subtypes
- Body mass index (BMI) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) significantly associated with atrioventricular block; SBP and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) associated with left bundle branch block
Replication analyses
- Results directionally consistent
Multivariable MR, conduction disorders
- BMI, SBP and lipoprotein(a) independent risk factors
Mediation of BMI effect on conduction disorders
- Proportion mediated by SBP
- 17.61%
- Proportion mediated by DBP
- 17.84%
Original publication
Association between modifiable risk factors and bradyarrhythmia: A Mendelian randomization study. Heart Rhythm. Published 15 October 2025. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it