What Determines the Risk for Atrial Fibrillation?

Investigators use FHS data to create a prediction model from seven major clinical risk factors.

The onset of atrial fibrillation is associated with a substantial risk for development of thromboembolic events and heart failure. An instrument that accurately identifies individuals at risk for AF could be useful for prevention, targeted interventions, and, possibly, reductions in associated healthcare costs.

To develop such an instrument, investigators assessed 4764 retrospectively selected participants in the Framingham Heart Study (FHS; 55% women; age range, 45–95) who were free of AF at 8044 examinations undertaken between 1968 and 1987. Participants were followed for ≤10 years for a first AF event. In a secondary analysis, the investigators added M-mode echocardiographic findings from a separate cohort of 5152 FHS participants to the …

Reviewing Author

Beat J. Meyer, MD

Disclosures

Leadership positions in professional societiesBern Heart Foundation (President); International Academy of Medicine, Bern, Switzerland (Director)

Beat J. Meyer, MD

Disclosures

Leadership positions in professional societiesBern Heart Foundation (President); International Academy of Medicine, Bern, Switzerland (Director)