一項最新研究發現了肥胖與罹患心房纖維性顫動之間的聯系。該項研究結果發表在2004年11月24日《美國醫學會期刊》。

研究人員研究了5282例參與Framingham心臟研究項目的患者，該項研究項目是由美國國立心臟、肺臟與血液研究院(NHLBI, Bethesda, MD, USA)主持的，在研究項目開始的時候患者沒有心房纖維性顫動。這些受試者根據體重指數分成三個類別：正常、超重與肥胖。在大約14年的時間內，研究人員發現心房纖維性顫動發生率隨著體重指數的增加而增加，男性與女性患者都是如此。那些體重指數最高的患者，罹患心房纖維性顫動的風險增加了50％。

根據Framingham心臟研究項目主任、該研究的共同作者Daniel Levy醫生的說法，這些研究結果需要得到其他研究項目的證實。如果這些研究結果得到進一步證實，Levy醫生相信，控制體重除了能夠降低患高血壓、糖尿病以及其他肥胖相關性并發癥之外，還能夠降低罹患心房纖維性顫動的風險。

Obesity Linked to Atrial Fibrillation
 
A new study has found an association between obesity and the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF). The finding was reported in the November 24, 2004, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Investigators studied 5,282 participants in the Framingham Heart Study, conducted by the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI, Bethesda, MD, USA), who did not have AF when the study began. These subjects were divided into three categories of body mass index (BMI): normal, overweight, and obese. Over a period of about 14 years, the investigators found that the incidence of AF increased as BMI increased, for both men and women. For those with the highest BMI, the AF risk could increase by 50%.

These findings should be confirmed by other observational studies, according to Daniel Levy, M.D., a co-author of the study and director of the Framingham Heart Study. If the study is validated, Dr. Levy believes weight control may lower the risk for AF, in addition to reducing risk for hypertension, diabetes, and other obesity-related complications.