Which measure of adiposity is best to predict AF?
A study of more than two million people shows there's a sex difference that could be helpful to GPs
BMI is more informative than waist circumference in assessing future atrial fibrillation (AF) risk in women but the opposite is the case for men, a large study shows.
Although the association between body fat and AF is well established, the findings highlight the value of sex-specific risk prediction using different measures of adiposity, the University of Oxford-led researchers say.
The team analysed BMI, waist circumference and ECG data from nearly 2.1 million adults (mean age 64) in the UK and US, collected between 2008 and 2013, to estimate the predictive value of the body fat measures in assessing AF risk.
Those with established cardiovascular disease were excluded from the study.
