Melissa E. Middeldorp, MPH, PhD, University Medical Centre, Groningen & University of Adelaide, is joined by So-Ryoung Lee, MD, PhD, Seoul National University Hospital, and Adrian D. Elliott, PhD, University of Adelaide/Royal, Adelaide Hospital, to discuss a study that compares atrial fibrillation (AF) epidemiology and risk factors between the UK Biobank (a predominantly European cohort) and the Korean NHIS-HEALS cohort to explore racial differences in AF incidence. Findings revealed that AF was more prevalent in the UK cohort than in the Korean cohort, with BMI and smoking showing stronger associations with AF risk in the UK population. Despite these differences, several risk factors, including hypertension and diabetes, were common predictors in both populations. The study highlights the complex interplay of lifestyle and healthcare system factors along with analysis of different large cohort studies in AF development and underscores the need for population-specific risk assessment and prevention strategies.

• Interpret the key findings on AF incidence and risk factor differences between the UK Biobank and Korean NHIS-HEALS cohorts – Examine why AF incidence was higher in the UK cohort compared to the Korean cohort, and analyze how specific risk factors, such as BMI and smoking, had a stronger association with AF in the UK population.

• Critically evaluate the methodological approach and implications of the study’s findings for global AF risk prediction – Assess how differences in data collection, healthcare access, and genetic versus environmental influences may have impacted the results, and discuss how these insights can guide personalized risk assessment and targeted prevention strategies across diverse populations.

Moon-Hyun Kim, MD; Pil-Sung Yang, MD; Daehoon Kim, MD; Eunsun Jang, MS; Hee Tae Yu, MD; Tae-Hoon Kim, MD; Jung-Hoon Sung, MD; Hui-Nam Pak, MD; Moon-Hyoung Lee, MD; Gregory Y.H. Lip, MD; Boyoung Joung, MD, PhD

Melissa E. Middeldorp, MPH, PhD, University Medical Centre, Groningen & University of Adelaide
So-Ryoung Lee, MD, PhD, Seoul National University Hospital
Adrian D. Elliott, PhD, University of Adelaide/Royal, Adelaide Hospital

M. Middeldorp: Nothing to disclose.

​Contributor Disclosure(s):
S. Lee: Nothing to disclose.
A. Elliott: Nothing to disclose.

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