Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Impact of air pollution and multimorbidity on the risk of incident atrial fibrillation
Authors' conclusion
Air pollution and multimorbidity were independently and synergistically associated with higher AF risk. Mitigation strategies targeting pollution may reduce AF burden, particularly in high-risk populations.
Study context
- Population
- Individuals from the UK Biobankindividuals retrieved from the UK Biobank
- Participants
- 480,344 individuals
- Exposure
- Air pollution exposure and multimorbidity status on atrial fibrillation (AF) incidence
- Outcome
- Incident AF
- Follow-up
- Median 12.5 years (IQI 11.8 to 13.2)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Incident AF cases
28 977
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | HR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Incident AF per 1 µg/m³ higher PM 2.537% higher AF risk | 1.37 (1.36–1.38) | |
| 0.512Hazard ratio (log scale) |
Incident AF by PM 10, NOₓ and NO 2
| HR (95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
| PM 10 | 1.18 (1.17–1.18) | |
| NOₓ | 1.06 (1.06–1.06) | |
| NO 2 | 1.03 (1.03–1.03) | |
| 0.512Hazard ratio (log scale) |
| Outcome | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Incident AF by multimorbidityCardiometabolic multimorbidity vs no multimorbidity | fold higher AF risk 1.84 (95% CI 1.76–1.93) |
| Incident AF by multimorbiditynon-CVD multimorbidity vs no multimorbidity | fold higher AF risk 2.13 (95% CI 1.97–2.30) |
| Interaction of high PM 2.5 exposure and non-CVD multimorbidity on AFHigh PM 2.5 exposure and non-CVD multimorbidity | fold higher AF risk sixfold (95% CI 5.25–6.82) |
| Interaction of high PM 2.5 exposure and non-CVD multimorbidity on AFHigh PM 2.5 exposure and non-CVD multimorbidity · exceeding the sum of individual risks | RERI 2.31 (95% CI 1.55–3.07) |
Interaction of high PM 2.5 exposure and non-CVD multimorbidity on AF
- Additive interactions observed between air pollution and multimorbidity
Preventable AF if PM 2.5 reduced to the 10th percentile (counterfactual)
- AF cases preventable in multimorbidity subgroups
- 26-52%
- Cardiometabolic clusters
- 52%
Original publication
Impact of air pollution and multimorbidity on the risk of incident atrial fibrillation. Heart. Published 19 June 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →