At the Kahn Center, we are involved in the care of many patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). This is a cardiology diagnosis you would wish to avoid in life as it represents cardiac pathology and increases the risk for stroke substantially. But what an we do to avoid AF?
AF is the most common arrhythmia, whose prevalence and incidence are increasing worldwide. Thirty years ago, the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) established age, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, valvular heart disease, heart failure, and coronary heart disease as risk factors for AF. Since then, obesity, metabolic syndrome, excess alcohol intake, and obstructive sleep apnea have been identified as modifiable risk factors for AF pathogenesis.
New data suggests that AF burden can be reduced by targeting modifiable risk factors. The American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 (LE8) score (higher scores healthier) and AF incidence has now been studied and provides a path to avoid AF.
STUDY
The researchers studied AF-free Framingham Heart Study Offspring and Omni 1 participants aged ≥45 years who attended ≥1 index exam in which LE8 components were assessed. LE8 scores were calculated incorporating body mass index, blood pressure, non-HDL cholesterol, glucose, smoking, physical activity, diet, and sleep.
RESULTS
The study included 3161 unique participants (57 % women, mean age 66 years).
Participants were classified as having “ideal” (LE8≥80; 16 %) “intermediate” (LE8 50–79), or “poor”(LE8<50; 7 %)cardiovascular health.
There were 410 incident AF events (10.4/1000 person-years).
Compared with “ideal”, a “poor” LE8 score was associated with a 78% higher AF risk.
Higher LE8 scores were associated with lower AF risk by about 20%.
CONCLUSIONS
Lower LE8 scores were associated with greater risk of developing AF. The LE8 scoring system provides targets to strive for and you can improve your LE8 score over time.
You can learn more about the
LE8 Score here and you can calculate your own score. If it is not optimal, you can work hard at the measurments to improve them.
