Alcohol consumption, cardiac biomarkers, and risk of atrial fibrillation and adverse outcomes

Community-based pooled cohort study (n=107,845) found that in contrast to other CVDs, even modest habitual alcohol intake linked to increased risk of AF (HR for one drink [12 g] per day: 1.16, 95% CI 1.11–1.22, p<0.001), which needs to be considered in AF prevention.

SPS commentary:

Editorial notes that taken together with a recent randomised trial showing that a reduction in alcohol intake led to a reduction in AF recurrence, these data suggest that lowering alcohol consumption may be important for both prevention and management of AF. It adds that importantly, any reduction in low-to-moderate alcohol consumption to potentially prevent AF needs to be balanced with the potentially beneficial association low amounts alcohol may have with respect to other cardiovascular outcomes. The net clinical benefit of consuming low amounts of alcohol requires further study.

European Heart Journal

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Editorial