The height as an independent risk factor of atrial fi brillation: A review

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is characterized by abnormal heart rhythm. Among other well-known associations, recent studies suggest an association of AF with height. Height is related to 50 diseases spanning different body systems, AF is one of them. Since AF, a heterogeneous disease process, is influenced by structural, neural, electrical, and hemodynamic factors, height alters this process through its contribution to increasing atrial and ventricular size, leading to altered conduction patterns, autonomic dysregulation, and development of AF. Multiple underlying mechanisms associate height with AF. Apart from these indirect mechanisms, genome-wide association studies suggest the involvement of the same genes in AF and growth pathways. Tall stature is independently associated with a higher risk of AF development in healthy individuals. Since adult height is achieved much earlier than the onset of AF, protective measures can be taken in individuals with increased height to monitor, manage, and prevent the progression of AF. (C) 2020 Cardiological Society of India. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

Recent studies have shown an association between height and atrial fibrillation (AF), as height can alter the development process of AF by affecting factors such as heart size and conduction patterns. While there are multiple underlying mechanisms linking height to AF, tall stature is indeed independently associated with a higher risk of AF development in healthy individuals. Therefore, measures can be taken to monitor, manage, and prevent the progression of AF in individuals with increased height.