Arq. Bras. Cardiol. 2022; 119(5): 732-733

Analysis of Atrial Fibrillation Prevalence and Cardiovascular Health in Cohort Derived from the ELSA-Brasil Project

Henrique Tria Bianco

DOI: 10.36660/abc.20220676

This Short Editorial is referred by the Research article "Cardiovascular Health and Atrial Fibrillation or Flutter: A Cross-Sectional Study from ELSA-Brasil".

This interesting study of prevalence analyzed the association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) with cardiovascular health status, in a cohort derived from the ELSA-BRASIL project, in an observational, cross-sectional design. A total of 13,141 participants were included in this analysis. Biomarker metrics and epidemiological data were entered with subsequent association analysis in an adjusted model and logistic regression for the variables of interest.

The mechanisms of association between AF and cerebrovascular accident (CVA) risk are well known. AF is associated with abnormal blood stasis that involves atrial hypocontractility, atrial structural remodeling, platelet activation and the coagulation cascade, promoting thrombus formation and ischemia.^, Thus, AF is an independent predictor of ischemic diseases, notably stroke. The estimated lifetime risk of AF is between 22% and 26%.^, Metrics to assess the impact of this association are constantly published in documents, such as the recommendations of the American Heart Association Strategic Planning Task Force Goals and Metrics Committee, which developed continuous and long-term monitoring strategies. Within a general concept, cardiovascular health must contain clinical and behavioral aspects, such as an adequate lifestyle (no smoking, avoiding obesity), concomitant with the correction and adequacy of metabolic biomarkers, such as cholesterol and triglyceride levels; blood glucose; and adequate blood pressure control. Thus, this committee proposed a challenge to reach these goals: “By 2020, improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20%, reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20%”. So, identifying individuals at risk for developing AF is a clinical imperative, as modifying some variables can reduce the incidence of this condition.^,

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