New study finds link between sodium consumption, atrial fibrillation

Investigators may have illuminated the relationship between sodium consumption and the risk of atrial fibrillation, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open.

The investigators analyzed the outcomes of 27,391 patients who participated in the ONTARGET and TRANSCEND trials. They noted about 6% of the patients developed atrial fibrillation during the study period.

Compared with those who had consumed between 4 and nearly 6 grams of sodium per day, the patients who consumed 8 grams or more per day had a higher risk of atrial fibrillation. The investigators found that each 1-gram increase over 6 grams raised the risk of atrial fibrillation by 10%. However, lowering sodium intake to less than 3 grams per day did not reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation compared with consuming a moderate amount of sodium per day.

The investigators suggested that sodium reduction strategies could benefit patients who consume large amounts of sodium and are at high risk of atrial fibrillation.

Further studies may be needed to better understand the association between sodium consumption and the risk of atrial fibrillation.

Read more: JAMA Network Open

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