A multi-national study to understand the upstream risk factors for atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most commonly occurring, sustained abnormal heart rhythm. Once AF occurs, patients are at increased risk of stroke, heart failure and death. The burden of atrial fibrillation (AF) is growing globally, and once AF occurs, it is difficult to “cure”. Therefore, a greater emphasis on how to prevent AF from occurring in the first place is needed. Through a collaboration of the PURE and CLSA studies, we aim to examine how health related behaviors (e.g. diet, alcohol, smoking, physical activity) and environmental factors (e.g. air pollution) impact the risk of AF across 17 countries. These results will inform the most appropriate public health policies to reduce the burden of AF.