Aims: The aim of this study is to identify the causal association of genetically potential biological, behavioral, ethnic factors with risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) and risk of its associated complications using mendelian-randomization.
Scientific rationale: To date, many environmental and genetic risk factors have been revealed in the development of AF, but associations between these risk factors and AF are remarkably complex and unclear. In existing observational studies investigating the causal relationship between potential risk factors and the development of AF, reverse causality and additional confounding were inevitable. Thus, further evidence independent of reverse causation or confounding is needed to identify meaningful causality between AF and risk factors. Recently, the number of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and GWAS meta-analyses examining genetic susceptibility to the development of AF has been increasing. By utilizing large datasets to identify genetic variants and their phenotype responsible for the occurrence of AF, an exact causal inference between genetically potential risk factors and AF would be possible.
Project duration: Our project is expected to be completed within 36 months.
Public health impact: In the context of the increasing epidemiological burden of AF, considering that AF is highly associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, identification and control of genetically predicted potential risk factors for the development of AF could be the key to reduce the future burden of AF and its cardiovascular complications.