The researchers conclude from these findings a potential role for genetically determined variation in thyroid function within a physiologically accepted normal range as a risk factor for AF.
An editorial notes that epidemiologic studies have identified observational associations between multiple clinical conditions and AF, including hypertension, obesity, and thyroid dysfunction, and targeting biological pathways and lifestyle factors relevant to these conditions may serve as effective preventive therapy for AF. However, it stresses that an observational association may not be reflective of a forward causal relationship, thus attempting to decipher causality for observational associations is critical given that interventions on factors external to a causal pathway are less likely to achieve the desired effect on the outcome.