Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Racial differences and similarities in atrial fibrillation epidemiology and risk factors in UK Biobank and Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening (NHIS-HEALS) cohort studies
Main finding · Incidence and risk of AFResult — go to the resultHazard ratio 1.20 95% CI 1.15–1.25Authors' conclusion
In this first large-scale comparison of White and Asian populations, the cumulative risk for development of AF was higher in the United Kingdom than in Korea. Higher BMI and smoking were associated with a higher risk of AF in the United Kingdom than in Korea.
Study context
- Population
- White Europeans from the UK Biobank and Asians from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening (NHIS-HEALS) study206,704 participants per cohort after age and sex matching
- Participants
- 206,704 vs 206,704
- Exposure
- Associations between risk factors and atrial fibrillation (AF) in White Europeans from the UK Biobank and Asians from the Korean NHIS-HEALS study
- UK Biobankn = 206,704
- Korean NHIS-HEALSn = 206,704reference
- Outcome
- Incidence and risk of AF
- Follow-up
- Median 7.1 years in the Korean NHIS-HEALS and 11.9 years in the UK Biobank
Methodological detailscomparison of the UK Biobank and Korean NHIS-HEALS cohorts, matched for age and sex
- Comparison of the UK Biobank and Korean NHIS-HEALS cohorts
- Matched for age and sex
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Hazard ratio
1.20
95% CI 1.15–1.25
By group
UK Biobankvs Korean NHIS-HEALS
hazard ratio 1.20 (95% CI 1.15–1.25)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Relative risk ratio (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Higher BMI and smoking and new-onset AFUK Biobankvs Korean NHIS-HEALSHigher BMI; more strongly related in the UK Biobank | 1.21 (1.17–1.25) | |
| Higher BMI and smoking and new-onset AFUK Biobankvs Korean NHIS-HEALSSmoking; more strongly related in the UK Biobank | 1.12 (1.02–1.21) | |
| 0.512Relative risk ratio (log scale) |
Risk factors associated with new-onset AF in both cohorts
- Body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure, alcohol, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and stroke were associated with an increased risk of new-onset AF in both cohorts
Original publication
Racial differences and similarities in atrial fibrillation epidemiology and risk factors in UK Biobank and Korean NHIS-HEALS cohort studies. Heart Rhythm. Published 10 February 2025. doi:10.
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