Weight and weight change and risk of atrial fibrillation: the HUNT study

Although obesity has been associated with risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), the associations of long-term obesity, recent obesity, and weight change with AF risk throughout adulthood are uncertain.

An ambispective cohort study was conducted which included 15 214 individuals. The cohort was created from 2006 to 2008 (the baseline) and was followed for incident AF until 2015. Weight and height were directly measured at baseline. Data on previous weight and height were retrieved retrospectively from measurements conducted 10, 20, and 40 years prior to baseline. Average body mass index (BMI) over time and weight change was calculated. During follow-up, 1149 participants developed AF. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios were 1.2 (95% confidence interval 1.0-1.4) for average BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m2 and 1.6 (1.2-2.0) for average BMI ≥30 kg/m2 when compared with normal weight. The association of average BMI with AF risk was only slightly attenuated after adjustment for most recent BMI. In contrast, current BMI was not strongly associated with the risk of AF after adjustment for average BMI earlier in life. Compared with stable BMI, both loss and gain in BMI were associated with increased AF risk. After adjustment for most recent BMI, the association of BMI gain with AF risk was largely unchanged, while the association of BMI loss with AF risk was weakened.

Long-term obesity and BMI change are associated with AF risk. Obesity earlier in life and weight gain over time exert cumulative effects on AF development even after accounting for most recent BMI.