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Atrial fibrillation

Puzzling out the race paradox

Nature Reviews Cardiology volume 13, pages 442–443 (2016)Cite this article

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The prevalence of AF is higher in white individuals than in black individuals despite traditional risk factors being less common

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm disorder with an increasing incidence worldwide. The prevalence of AF is higher in white individuals than in black individuals despite traditional risk factors being less common, but the mechanisms explaining this paradoxical difference have been elusive. Two studies published in JAMA Cardiology provide insight into the racial heterogeneity of AF.

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References

  1. Magnani, J. W. et al. Racial differences in atrial fibrillation-related cardiovascular disease and mortality: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. JAMA Cardiol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2016.1025 (2016)

  2. Roberts, J. D. et al. Genetic investigation into the differential risk of atrial fibrillation among black and white individuals. JAMA Cardiol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2016.1185 (2016)

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Authors
  1. Dario Ummarino
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Cite this article

Ummarino, D. Puzzling out the race paradox. Nat Rev Cardiol 13, 442–443 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrcardio.2016.112

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