Impact of the Duration and Degree of Hypertension and Body Weight on New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

Hypertension and obesity are known risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it is unclear whether uncontrolled, long-standing hypertension has a particularly profound effect on AF. Because they have a similar underlying pathophysiology, hypertension and obesity could act synergistically in the context of AF. We evaluated how various stages of hypertension and body weight status affect new-onset AF. We analyzed a total of 9 797 418 participants who underwent a national health checkup. Hypertension was classified into 5 stagesnonhypertension, prehypertension, hypertension without medication, hypertension with medication