A new, independent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association has found that breast cancer and atrial fibrillation (AFib) exhibit similar rates in women aged 55 and older across many regions worldwide, with alcohol use and smoking identified as key modifiable risk factors. The research, which analyzed data from 204 countries and territories, suggests that reducing these behaviors could lower the incidence of both conditions.
The study, led by researchers at Peking University People’s Hospital in Beijing, used machine learning to evaluate 58 risk factors and found that in approximately 40% of the countries studied, the rates of breast cancer and AFib were comparable. High-income Western nations, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and much of Europe, showed the highest risk, likely due to lifestyle factors such as higher body mass index and sedentary habits.
“Identifying shared risk factors is important for developing interventions that support optimal health, such as smoking cessation and alcohol restriction, which could potentially reduce the global incidence of breast cancer and atrial fibrillation/flutter substantially,” said study co-author Shu Wang, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Breast Disease Center at Peking University People’s Hospital.
The analysis revealed that smoking and alcohol use were linked to higher rates of both conditions. An additional analysis estimated that reducing alcohol intake and smoking could reduce the risk of breast cancer by about 15% and AFib by about 12% worldwide. Alcohol use alone contributed to 9.27% of breast cancer cases and 7.57% of AFib cases.
The findings align with a 2018 Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association, which noted that breast cancer and cardiovascular disease share common risk factors that can be modified through a healthy diet, physical activity, abstinence from tobacco, and low alcohol intake.
“Nowadays, more and more people are paying attention to the link between cancer and cardiovascular health,” said study co-authors Zeye Liu, M.D., Ph.D., and Yi Shi, M.D., Ph.D., both of Peking University People’s Hospital. “Breast cancer and atrial fibrillation/flutter rise together across many regions of the world and share the same modifiable risk factors.”
The researchers created spatial risk maps that can guide region-specific prevention strategies. The study’s limitations include its reliance on country-level data, which cannot prove cause and effect, and potential differences in screening and data collection across countries.
Laxmi Mehta, M.D., FAHA, chair of the American Heart Association’s Council on Clinical Cardiology, who was not involved in the study, emphasized the importance of integrated lifestyle strategies. “The American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 highlights key behaviors and health factors essential for prevention and reducing risk,” she said.
