Men develop atrial fibrillation 10 years earlier than women, finds study

Men develop atrial fibrillation (AF) an average of 10 years earlier than women, and weight is a major risk factor, a pooled analysis of four large European community based studies has found.1

AF is the most common heart rhythm disorder, and its prevalence is increasing. Previous studies have shown that it is twice as common in men as in women, but the risk of adverse outcomes such as stroke is higher in women.

Researchers followed up 79 793 middle aged people (median age 49.6 years) in four community based European cohorts from Denmark, Finland, …