Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Long-term weight change and transition of metabolic health status in middle life and the risk of atrial fibrillation
Authors' conclusion
A BMI decrease of >2% per year was associated with a lower risk of AF, particularly in those changing from obesity to overweight. The transition from MH-overweight/obesity to MU-overweight/obesity increased the risk of AF. Weight management and maintenance of metabolic health should be recommended for primary prevention of AF.
Study context
- Population
- Participants of the UK Biobank, with body mass index (BMI) change and transition in BMI-metabolic health status in middle lifeparticipants initially included for baseline BMI analysis, 33,297 atrial fibrillation (AF) cases during a median follow-up of 14.0 years
- Participants
- 490,969 participants
- Exposure
- BMI change and transition in BMI-metabolic health status and AF risk
- Outcome
- AF risk by baseline BMI category
- Follow-up
- Median 14.0 years
Methodological detailswithin the UK Biobank
- Within the UK Biobank
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Hazard ratio (95% CI)
Overweight
1.12(1.09–1.15)
Obesityvs MH-normal weight
1.74(1.68–1.79)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | HR | |
|---|---|---|
| AF risk with BMI loss of >2% per yearBMI loss of >2% per year | 0.75 (95% CI 0.57–0.99) | |
| AF risk with BMI loss of >2% per yearTransitioning from obesity to overweight · without statistical significance | 0.74 (95% CI 0.54–1.02) | |
| AF risk by BMI-metabolic health statusMH-obesityvs MH-normal weight | 1.74 (CI 1.67–1.81) | |
| AF risk by BMI-metabolic health statusMU-obesityvs MH-normal weight | 1.76 (CI 1.69–1.83) | |
| 0.512Hazard ratio (log scale) |
AF risk with transition from metabolically healthy (MH)-overweight/obesity to MU-overweight/obesity
| HR (CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
| MH-overweight/obesity to MU-overweight/obesity | 1.35 (0.97–1.88) | |
| 0.512Hazard ratio (log scale) |
Original publication
Long-term weight change and transition of metabolic health status in middle life and the risk of atrial fibrillation. Heart Rhythm. Published 13 March 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →