Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Secondhand tobacco smoke and risk of atrial fibrillation: An observational epidemiologic and gene-environment interaction analysis
Main finding · Risk of incident AFResult — go to the resultMultivariable-adjusted hazard ratio 1.06 95% CI 1.02–1.09Authors' conclusion
Exposure to SHS is a significant predictor of an increased risk of AF, with a synergistic effect when combined with genetic predisposition. Minimizing SHS exposure, especially in individuals with a heightened genetic susceptibility to AF, may potentially reduce the future risk of AF.
Study context
- Population
- UK Biobank participants categorized by secondhand tobacco smoke exposure
- Exposure
- SHS-exposure vs nonexposure groups
- Outcome
- risk of incident AF
- Follow-up
- Median 12.5 years
Methodological detailsUK Biobank database, gene-environment interaction analysis
- UK Biobank database
- Gene-environment interaction analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio
1.06
95% CI 1.02–1.09
P = 0.002
SHS-exposure group vs nonexposure group
multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio 1.06 (95% CI 1.02–1.09); P = 0.002
- Atrial fibrillation (AF) occurred in
- 23,471 (5.9%)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Adjusted hazard ratio (CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Risk of AF, severe SHS-exposure group (dose-dependent)Severe SHS-exposure group vs nonexposure group | 1.11 (1.04–1.18) | P = 0.001 | |
| 0.512Adjusted hazard ratio (log scale) |
Risk of AF by exposure location (home, outside, or workplace)
- The risk of AF was higher in the SHS-exposure group regardless of the exposure location
Additive interaction of SHS exposure with third tertile of AF polygenic risk score
- Synergy index
- 1.13; 1.05-1.21; P = .024
Baseline characteristics
- The SHS-exposure group was younger and predominantly male
Original publication
Secondhand tobacco smoke and risk of atrial fibrillation: An observational epidemiologic and gene-environment interaction analysis. Heart Rhythm. Published 19 August 2025. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it