Previous studies have only shown an association between high blood pressure and developing atrial fibrillation....
To investigate whether blood pressure has a direct impact on the risk of atrial fibrillation, the researchers conducted a naturally randomised controlled trial – called Mendelian randomisation. They used data from the largest genome-wide association study (GWAS) on blood pressure and atrial fibrillation which included more than one million individuals of European ancestry – of which 60,620 had atrial fibrillation and 970,216 did not.
The first step was to identify 894 genetic variants associated with blood pressure. Next, the researchers analysed which of those variants play a role in atrial fibrillation. To conduct the naturally randomised controlled trial, the 894 genetic variants were randomly allocated to all participants at conception, giving each individual a blood pressure level. The investigators then analysed the association between blood pressure and atrial fibrillation.
Elevated blood pressure was associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation. Specifically, 1 mmHg rises in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and pulse pressure were associated with 1.8%, 2.6% and 1.4% relative increases in the risk of atrial fibrillation, respectively"
“Our findings confirm the hypothesis that atrial fibrillation is preventable. This indicates that strict blood pressure control could be an effective strategy to stop atrial fibrillation and its complications, which include stroke, heart failure, dementia, and depression.”
Written by
Barny12
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"AF happens"...in part because certain conditions and lifestyles are more associated with AF than others, and I for one would like to try as many lifestyle modifications as I can. Knowing hypertension is causal for AF is another avenue for me to explore.
True life style has an impact on AF burden but for every alcoholic, caffeine addicted, obese ,chouch potato with AF there will always be racing snakes who gets it.
Is Personal Experience a good enough reference for you?
I also have personal documentation & monitoring from hospital and from my EP in the form of mobile monitoring which demonstrates that when my BP drops below 90 systolic, which it used to frequently, all hell breaks loose as far as AF and heart rate. M I don’t need a study to tell me that.
PS - since taking a medication for another condition my BP stabilised at what would be termed ‘normal’ for most people at around 100-110/75. I found out much later that it very occasionally used to raise BP.
Just ask anyone with ADS about low BP and arrythmias.
I have no idea whether low BP can trigger an episode of AF - I've never heard of that, and generally a lower BP indicates a better cardiovascular outcome - but the point of my initial post was simply that High BP has long been associated with AF; now, for this first time it has been shown that it is more than an association - it can and does cause AF.
I had low resting blood since I can remember (when I used to run regularly it was about 46bpm) but ended up with SVT, passing out etc.. this morphed into an irregular irregular Afib some 5 years ago. So my personal experience is yes, low blood pressure can be a precursor of Afib.
My BP is now a steady 15 bpm faster than before my 3 ablations. I don’t run anymore.
Not a study but my personal belief for me, overweight and excess food and drink gave me sleep apnea that was the root cause of my high blood pressure, I also think that the apnea was a strong cause of my afib now at a bmi of 25 I sleep better my body is highish normal 125/75 and my afib I hope has been tamed by a skilled ablation.
I am very sure apnea is a root cause of a lot of nasty ness and wish I had done the weight loss thing much sooner
Thanks for posting this. It's very interesting. In the article they are investigating aetiology - the factors which produce or predispose toward a certain disease or disorder- they haven't said that high BP is the cause of AF. They've said there's a clear association and that high BP is an indicator of AF. It might be one of its precursors. None of this is the same as a cause and in the article they're not claiming this. Not from what I understood anyway. Doesn't mean it isn't useful. I'd go further than the article though...why not show people how to address the triggers for high BP and assist us all in avoiding strokes and heart problems...
My understanding is that high blood pressure can cause the left atrium to expand which as we know can then result in the natural pathways being stretched and break down, thus allowing AF to intrude.
And Bob is this likely due to atherosclerosis? So the narrowing of arteries and veins means there's a higher pressure exerted leading to that expansion of the left atrium?
What was once known as "hardening of the arteries" can create high blood pressure I believe as there is less flexibilty to absorb variations in pressure. In stress situations the blood vessels away from the core contract so that when that sabre toothed tiger takes bit out us we don't bleed to death. Despite that animal having been extinct longer than I have been around, our body still has this reaction to danger or stress which raises BP. If the arteries themselves are less able to react then this has an ongoing BP effect.
"they haven't said that high BP is the cause of AF"....
Perhaps I'm misunderstanding what you're saying, but while they haven't said it's the cause they certainly did say it's a cause:
From the study:
"High blood pressure causes atrial fibrillation
Sophia Antipolis, 09 February 2021: The first evidence from genetic data that high blood pressure is causally associated with the most common heart rhythm disorder is published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology.
Study author Dr. Georgios Georgiopoulos of King’s College London, UK and National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece said: “Establishing that elevated blood pressure causes atrial fibrillation provides further impetus for public health strategies aimed at improving blood pressure control in the general population and for individual efforts to keep levels in check.”
No you haven't misunderstood. Clearly it's not THE cause or lone AF would not exist. My understanding of aetiology is that there'd be a specific cause. But I may have that wrong. What's interesting is the range of responses here interns of patient experience. Question I suppose is - statistically us there a high significance of AF in those with high BP compared with those without? Appreciate the share still.
In my wife's case, in addition to Bisoprolol the consultant who reviewed her case made a recommendation to the GP to put her on blood pressure tablets as her slightly high BP may be a trigger. The GP chose to ignore this. When the AF episodes kept on occurring we pushed the GP to review this and eventually got our way. In my wife's case the addition of tablets to bring down her BP did reduce significantly the number of AF episodes she was experiencing.
Last year I had thyroiditis and then diagnosed with hashimotos- ( getting old I know!!) and while the inflammation was very active my BP was all over the place. Tried, reluctantly, some BP meds but then stopped them all, with GP agreement, During those months I had some AF every few weeks. Thyroid settled down, as consultant predicted, (said it would shrivel up!!) and BP now very stable. No AF for 6 month s and last episode, 6 months ago, was after bi lateral knee replacement so no need to search for triggers . I've always understood raised BP is connected with AF but this last year's experience has convinced me!
Thank you for posting this!!! After my catheter ablation my electrophysiologist stated my AFIB was a direct result of untreated high blood pressure!! I was 38 when I started having episodes. For years before that when I would go to the doctor and have high BP the nurses and doc would brush it off as 'white coat syndrom' - even though I would tell them I had no fear of docs or my visits AND that high BP ran in my family! They didn't listen to me. For 10 years I complained about my heart and this GP and his contracted cardiologist would tell me I am too young to have heart or BP issues. These professionals left me go until at the age of 48 I was headed for heart failure! I stepped on toes and went over peoples heads and found this angel of a doc to help me (my electrophys.) but unfortunately the damage was done and after many different meds that didn't help, at the young age of 50 I had an ablation. The procedure saved my life but I am one of the unfortunates that had my vagus nerve damaged during the procedure and now suffer from GI issues for life. Point is - if you know anyone that has high blood pressure that doesn't think it's a big deal, well yes it is!!! Thanks for posting Barney12!!
Hello Barny 🙂 thank you for posting the article, I saw this research and it resonated with me on a number of levels including I had been diagnosed with high blood pressure before I developed P-AF, it was supposed to be monitored but that got ignored when I saw the wrong GP,
I found originally my P-A episodes tended to happen when I became angry or stressed a time when blood pressure rises. We know a high BP is a comorbidity of AF, it is listed on the CHADS score but not that it might be a cause in its own right.
As it happens the measures I take to help control P-AF are the same as for high blood pressure, beta blockers, no alcohol, avoid stress , eating a healthy diet with reduced salt.
I note also the diet recommended for high BP is rich in magnesium and potassium which I also follow.
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