Genetic Tests in AF Patients May Flag Heart Failure Risk
In a study that included two longitudinal cohorts (the All of Us Research program and the UK Biobank), the prevalence of inherited rare gene variants associated with cardiomyopathy was twice as high in patients with AF and up to five times as high in patients with early-onset AF, defined as that occurring in people younger than 45 years.
The analysis, of 44,182 patients with AF, also found those with gene variants associated with cardiomyopathy were at a higher risk for incident cardiomyopathy or heart failure after a diagnosis of AF — about 50%-70% higher compared with noncarriers — independent of clinical and polygenic risk.
The findings appeared in JAMA Cardiology .
'If you see a young person in the clinic with AF, first of all, it's not a good sign,' Sean J. Jurgens, MD, MSc, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Experimental Cardiology at Amsterdam UMC, and a co-author of the study, told JAMA in an interview about the research. 'The risk of heart failure and cardiomyopathies are relatively high and substantially elevated in any person with AF at a younger age. It's not a benign disease where you only have to treat the ischemic stroke risk.'
People carrying rare pathogenic variants 'are the patients you really need to look after because these will be the ones who will go on to develop heart failure more likely,' he said.
Jurgens acknowledged barriers remain with widespread genetic testing, citing cost, insurance coverage, a lack of cardiovascular genetic expertise, and the lack of genetic counselors. Genetic testing is also more widely available in a smaller country like the Netherlands. In the United States, especially outside of urban centers, accessibility is particularly limited.
'This is a very difficult problem, is why it is so important to do the right stratification,' Jurgens said. 'We can't offer it to everyone. One thing that's good to see is that the prices, at least on the technological side are dropping.'
Jurgens said the new research may help reduce the cost of genetic testing, as it narrowed the panel of pathogenic variants from more than 100 to 26, with a high degree of confidence.
Notable Strengths
In an editorial accompanying the journal article, Olivia G. Anderson, MS, CGC, with the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia, and her colleagues called the new study 'methodologically rigorous.'
The work 'affirms the observation that AF can be an early phenotypic manifestation' of genetic cardiomyopathy, they wrote.
Anderson and her co-authors praised the study for generating concordant results from a sensitivity analysis using a 12-month blanking period, which reduced the likelihood patients were diagnosed with AF and cardiomyopathy at the same time.
They also said the Dutch team's study makes a strong case for genetic testing in patients with AF, particularly for those younger than 45 years. 'Their findings also highlight the increasing need for genetic counselors embedded in cardiology practices and an expanded availability of specialized cardiovascular genetics clinics,' they wrote.
This work was supported in part by the Amsterdam UMC YTF, Dutch Heart Foundation, and the AFIP Foundation; the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft; the CIRCULAR NOW Consortium and the Dutch Heart Foundation, focused on genomic risk prediction in cardiomyopathies; the American Heart Association, the European Union, and the Fondation Leducq.
Jurgens and the authors of the editorial reported no relevant financial relationships.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Impact of periods leading some university students to miss six weeks of degree
UK university students miss around six weeks of academic study during their degrees because of the impacts of their menstrual cycle, according to research. Seven in 10 said they feel unable to concentrate on studies or assessments due to period pain, a report from the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) into the 'hidden impact' of menstruation in higher education. Time missed rose to around 11 weeks over the course of a three-year degree for those who have been diagnosed with a menstruation-related illness, such as endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome. But the survey of students also found that 15% reported having days or weeks during their cycle when they benefit from a mental or physical boost that helps their focus and performance. The report called for 'thoughtful institutional and governmental responses' to an issue affecting half the population, with a recommendation that clearer language is used and explicit references are made to women's health conditions when considering requests for extensions on assignments or time off. Awareness should be raised about the impact of menstruation in the same way as it is for the menopause, with policies, guidelines and action plans to reduce stigma, provide training and signpost support for both staff and students, the report added. Some 950 people in the survey said they had a period in the previous 12 months – the vast majority women, but 1% identifying as transgender men and 1% as non-binary. The report author said, taking into account the participation of a small number of trans men and the fact some women might not menstruate due to taking contraception, they have used the phrases 'people who menstruate' or 'students who menstruate', which they accepted 'may appear clumsy, (but) they most accurately reflect the data'. As part of the same report, 1,571 people, just over half of whom identified as women, were asked about their perceptions of menstrual education and the impact of menstrual cycles and periods. Just over a fifth (22%) of male students said they had received no lessons about menstrual cycles or periods. Women were more likely than men to describe the education on these topics as poor, with the report saying the findings suggest school education 'may be suitable for those who do not have periods but may need to understand them', but that education for women 'could and should be improved'. Rose Stephenson, Hepi director of policy and report author, said: 'The findings from this report demonstrate the hidden impact of periods and menstrual cycles on students' higher education studies. 'This is a particularly serious issue for those who have been diagnosed with menstruation-related illnesses who miss, on average, 11 weeks of academic study over a three-year degree course. 'Menstrual health is not a niche concern. It is a structural issue that deserves thoughtful institutional and governmental responses.' Professor Dame Sally Mapstone, president of Universities UK, said: 'Historically, menstruation has too often been framed as a source of embarrassment, invisibility, or disadvantage. That should no longer be the case. 'This report sets out a challenge to reflect on how systems, policies and assumptions may obscure the realities of those they serve and to shape a more intelligent, humane and responsive academic culture. That is a challenge well worth taking up.' The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIAHE) said: 'It is important that providers clearly explain how students can seek support for any personal circumstances affecting them, including menstruation. 'Recently, we have seen that many providers have been taking a more flexible approach to students' personal circumstances, encouraging self-certification options and focusing on the impact on the student rather than on specific medical diagnoses. 'We hope that this will encourage more students affected by the issues identified in this valuable research to seek appropriate support.' A Department for Education spokesperson said: 'Our new sex and health education guidance makes clear that pupils should learn the facts about the menstrual cycle, as well as the associated physical and emotional changes. 'Universities are expected to support students' wellbeing, attendance and academic performance, and we encourage them to make free period products easily available across campus.'
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
New Charities Aid Foundation study finds people in wealthy countries donate significantly less than low-income countries
LONDON, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- People in low-income countries are twice as generous as those in high-income countries when it comes to supporting people in need and charities, according to new research by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). CAF's new World Giving Report uses insights gathered from more than 50,000 people to explore what drives giving at a global level and across 101 countries. The research introduces a generosity measure to compare countries, assessing the amount of money donated as a proportion of income. People in low-income countries give away an average of 1.45% of their income to good causes, compared to 0.7% in high-income countries. In Africa, people donate an average of 1.54% of their income to good causes, compared to 0.64% in Europe. Nigeria is the most generous country, where people give an average of 2.83% of their income to charities, religiously or to people in need. However, three G7 countries have some of the lowest levels of donations as a proportion of income (France 0.45%, Germany 0.39%, and Japan 0.16%). Across the world, those aged 35-44 donated almost 1.5 times as much of their income as those over 65-years (1.18% vs 0.83%). Worldwide, the most popular cause is children and young people, supported by 29% of people, and a top cause in every continent. One in four (26%) donors supported humanitarian aid and disaster relief efforts and people in Asia (16%) were the most likely to support environmental causes. Most people donate to make a difference to a cause they care about (65%). Nearly a fifth (18%) are inspired by something they saw on the news, and social media is the top way people discover new charities (14%). Globally, people tend to trust and value local charities the most, followed by national and then international charities. The research also finds that people are more generous when their government encourages giving. When a government encourages giving, people are also more likely to trust and think of them as more important to society. Neil Heslop, CAF's Chief Executive, said: "Around the world, social purpose organisations are facing severe financial headwinds. Traditional funding models need to change as patterns of behaviour evolve and governments cut back on their aid and development spending with philanthropy seeking to respond. "Individual giving remains the cornerstone of generosity. Yet there is wide disparity, with the most dynamic cultures of giving often in countries where the populations are also much in need. "It is notable that giving does not necessarily correlate with wealth or even security, but rather on the perception of necessity – and very often we perceive those closest to us to be most in need. During these challenging times, there is much we can learn about the power of connection, and the nature of compassion for our fellow citizens, whether they be across the street or around the world." Further information: Photo: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Charities Aid Foundation Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
New Charities Aid Foundation study finds people in wealthy countries donate significantly less than low-income countries
LONDON, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- People in low-income countries are twice as generous as those in high-income countries when it comes to supporting people in need and charities, according to new research by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). CAF's new World Giving Report uses insights gathered from more than 50,000 people to explore what drives giving at a global level and across 101 countries. The research introduces a generosity measure to compare countries, assessing the amount of money donated as a proportion of income. People in low-income countries give away an average of 1.45% of their income to good causes, compared to 0.7% in high-income countries. In Africa, people donate an average of 1.54% of their income to good causes, compared to 0.64% in Europe. Nigeria is the most generous country, where people give an average of 2.83% of their income to charities, religiously or to people in need. However, three G7 countries have some of the lowest levels of donations as a proportion of income (France 0.45%, Germany 0.39%, and Japan 0.16%). Across the world, those aged 35-44 donated almost 1.5 times as much of their income as those over 65-years (1.18% vs 0.83%). Worldwide, the most popular cause is children and young people, supported by 29% of people, and a top cause in every continent. One in four (26%) donors supported humanitarian aid and disaster relief efforts and people in Asia (16%) were the most likely to support environmental causes. Most people donate to make a difference to a cause they care about (65%). Nearly a fifth (18%) are inspired by something they saw on the news, and social media is the top way people discover new charities (14%). Globally, people tend to trust and value local charities the most, followed by national and then international charities. The research also finds that people are more generous when their government encourages giving. When a government encourages giving, people are also more likely to trust and think of them as more important to society. Neil Heslop, CAF's Chief Executive, said: "Around the world, social purpose organisations are facing severe financial headwinds. Traditional funding models need to change as patterns of behaviour evolve and governments cut back on their aid and development spending with philanthropy seeking to respond. "Individual giving remains the cornerstone of generosity. Yet there is wide disparity, with the most dynamic cultures of giving often in countries where the populations are also much in need. "It is notable that giving does not necessarily correlate with wealth or even security, but rather on the perception of necessity – and very often we perceive those closest to us to be most in need. During these challenging times, there is much we can learn about the power of connection, and the nature of compassion for our fellow citizens, whether they be across the street or around the world." Further information: SOURCE Charities Aid Foundation Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
