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Gastroesophageal reflux disease increases the risk of atrial fibrillation
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is associated with an increased incidence of atrial fibrillation, according to a study published in the journal Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine.
Lei Wang and Yi Wei Lu from the Aerospace Center Hospital in Beijing and colleagues assessed the role of GERD as a potential factor contributing to the development of atrial fibrillation using a two-way Mendelian randomization analysis. The study used data from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 602,604 people to analyze the association of genetic variants with GERD and data from a second GWAS of 1.03 million participants to analyze the association of genetic variations with atrial fibrillation.
The researchers found that Mendelian randomization analysis using 76 single nucleotide polymorphisms as markers revealed an association between genetically predicted GERD and an increased incidence of atrial fibrillation (odds ratio 1.165). There was no evidence of gene pleiotropy (intercept = 0.003). Similar results were obtained in sensitivity analyses.
"Mendelian randomization analysis found an association between GERD and an increased incidence of atrial fibrillation, supporting the idea that treating patients with GERD early may reduce their chances of developing atrial fibrillation," the study authors write.