Obesity phenotypes and their relationships with atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Background: This study assessed the associations of metabolic obesity phenotypes with the risk of atrial fibrillation (Afib).

Methods: This prospective cohort study categorized Taiwanese adults according to their body mass index (BMI) and metabolic health status at baseline. We assigned the participants to the underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m²), normal weight (BMI = 18.5-23.9 kg/m²), and overweight/obesity groups (BMI ≥ 24 kg/m²). Metabolically healthy was defined as absence of hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia and the presence of healthy metabolic profiles.

Results: In total, 5,742 adults were included. During a median follow-up of 13.7 years, 148 patients developed Afib. Compared to the metabolically healthy normal weight group, the risk of Afib was significantly higher than those in the metabolically unhealthy overweight/obesity (hazard ratio = 2.20, 95% confidence interval [1.12-4.33]) and metabolically unhealthy normal weight groups (HR = 2.64, 95% CI [1.34-5.17]). Additionally, the point estimate suggested a 1.97-fold greater risk among the metabolically healthy overweight/obesity group, although this difference was not significant given the wide confidence interval (HR = 1.97, 95% CI [0.80-4.86]).

Conclusion: Our results demonstrated the relationships of metabolic health and weight regarding the risk of Afib in Taiwanese adults. The Afib risk among metabolic and obesity phenotypes is associated with a metabolically unhealthy status. A trend toward a higher Afib risk with obesity among metabolically healthy subjects was observed. However, the result was not robust and it still suggested further study.

Keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Metabolic obesity phenotypes; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolically healthy obesity; Metabolically unhealthy.