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Part II Framingham Study: Research Milestones in Heart Disease and Atrial Fibrillation
Now celebrating its 70th year, the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) is a long-term, ongoing cardiovascular study of residents of the city of Framingham, MA, a small, middle-class community 23 miles west of Boston.
Starting in 1948, the objective of the Framingham Heart Study was to identify the common factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease by following its development over a long period of time. Participants would have no overt symptoms of heart disease and not suffered a heart attack or stroke. Today 15,447 people of varying ages, backgrounds and heritage are enrolled including second and third generations.
Findings Integral to Scientific Understanding A-Fib
The Framingham study has contributed greatly to our understanding of Atrial Fibrillation and to the risk of stroke, heart attack and heart failure. A few important milestones about A-Fib include:
1957 High blood pressure and high cholesterol levels increase likelihood of heart disease
1960 Cigarette smoking found to increase the risk of heart disease
1970 Atrial fibrillation increases stroke risk 5-fold
1982 Chronic atrial fibrillation associated with a doubling of overall mortality and of mortality from cardiovascular disease
1991 Atrial fibrillation as an independent risk factor for stroke
1994 Diabetes and hypertension risk factors for atrial fibrillation
2002 Obesity is a risk factor for heart failure
2009 New genetic variant associated with increased risk for atrial fibrillation
2010 Sleep apnea tied to increased risk of stroke
2010 Having first-degree relative with atrial fibrillation associated with increased risk
Framingham Research: Expect More Findings About Atrial Fibrillation
Framingham scientists circa 1948
Framingham data resources are available for researchers to use, and those data continue to spur new scientific discoveries. The study data has spawned over 3,600 published studies in medical, peer-reviewed journals.
As A-Fib patients, we owe a huge debt to the Framingham participants, doctors, scientists and researchers. With continuation of the Framingham Heart Study, we can expect more research findings about Atrial Fibrillation for years to come.
