Habitual Alcohol Intake and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation in Young Adults in Korea

Source:

Han M, Lee S, Choi E, et al. Habitual Alcohol Intake and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation in Young Adults in Korea. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(9):e2229799. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.29799

Key Points

Question  Is high alcohol intake associated with the risk of atrial fibrillation in young adults?

Findings  In this cohort study including 1 537 836 adults aged 20 to 39 years, an up to 25% higher risk of incident atrial fibrillation was associated with a higher cumulative alcohol burden for 4 years, and up to 47% with sustained heavy drinking over 4 years.

Meaning  Persistent moderate to heavy drinking and higher cumulative alcohol consumption burden were associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation in young adults aged 20 to 39 years, suggesting the need for education on the risk of atrial fibrillation in young heavy drinkers.