What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Meta-Analysis. Population: Atrial Fibrillation (n=7358442). Intervention: Sarcopenia vs. Non-sarcopenia. Primary outcome: Atrial fibrillation onset (HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.22-1.68, p=0.001).

What does this research mean for the field?

Sarcopenia is significantly associated with a 44% increased risk of atrial fibrillation onset compared with non-sarcopenic individuals, independent of sex, age, geographic location, duration of follow-up, BMI status, and regular physical activity. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To quantify the association between sarcopenia and the risk of developing atrial fibrillation using observational cohort studies.

April 5, 2026SHILAP Revista de lepidopterologíaOpen Access

Effect of sarcopenia on risk of atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

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Key result

Sarcopenia linked to ~44% higher risk of AF onset.

HR 1.44
95% CI 1.22-1.68
P=0.001
n=7,358,442

Why the study?

The association between sarcopenia and the risk of atrial fibrillation remains uncertain.

Does sarcopenia increase the risk of atrial fibrillation onset in adults?

Population

7,358,442 participants across 10 studies

Comparison

Sarcopenia vs non-sarcopenia

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational cohort studies

Authors

JLJie LiuGuiyang College of Traditional Chinese Medicine ZLZhen LiAffiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University YBYanhong BiAffiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Should prompt AF monitoring in sarcopenic adults; leaves open whether treating sarcopenia prevents incident AF.

Key Points

To quantify the association between sarcopenia and the risk of developing atrial fibrillation using observational cohort studies.
Searched PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and major conference sessions from database inception to 15 August 2025 without language restrictions.
Included 10 observational studies (9 prospective cohorts and 1 cross-sectional study) comprising 7,358,442 total participants.
Pooled multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios using a DerSimonian–Laird random-effects model, assessing heterogeneity with the I2 statistic.
Sarcopenia significantly increased the risk of incident atrial fibrillation across 10 studies (pooled HR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.22–1.68; I2 = 93.5%, P < 0.001).
Risk was higher when diagnosed by comprehensive criteria combining low muscle mass and impaired function (HR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.49–2.15) than by impaired muscle function alone (HR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.05–1.50).
Increased risk persisted across diverse subgroups, with hazard ratios ranging from 1.22 in younger individuals to 1.97 in women.

Study Design

Type

Meta-Analysis (n=7,358,442)

Structured PICO

Does sarcopenia increase the risk of atrial fibrillation onset in adults?

Population

Adults from observational cohort studies

Intervention

Sarcopenia (sole or combined components of low muscle mass and impaired muscle function)

Comparator

Non-sarcopenia individuals

Outcome

Risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) onsethard clinical

Main Result

Effect estimate: HR 1.44 (95% CI 1.22-1.68)

p-value: p=0.001

Sarcopenia is associated with a 44% increased risk of incident atrial fibrillation, independent of sex, age, BMI, and physical activity.

Limitations

Potential unmeasured confounding due to the observational design of included studies
Varying confounding factors adjusted across the different studies
Inclusion of studies using non-comprehensive criteria for sarcopenia
Substantial heterogeneity among the included studies
Limited number of included studies in physical activity categories

Cite This Study

Liu et al. (2026) conducted a meta-analysis in Atrial Fibrillation (n=7,358,442). Sarcopenia vs. Non-sarcopenia was evaluated on Atrial fibrillation onset (HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.22-1.68, p=0.001). Sarcopenia is significantly associated with a 44% increased risk of atrial fibrillation onset compared with non-sarcopenic individuals.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69d1fb20a79560c99a0a18f3 https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2026.1721219

Topics

Atrial fibrillation Persistent AF management

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April 5, 2026SHILAP Revista de lepidopterologíaOpen Access

Effect of sarcopenia on risk of atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Key result

Sarcopenia linked to ~44% higher risk of AF onset.

HR 1.44
95% CI 1.22-1.68
P=0.001
n=7,358,442

Why the study?

The association between sarcopenia and the risk of atrial fibrillation remains uncertain.

Does sarcopenia increase the risk of atrial fibrillation onset in adults?

Population

7,358,442 participants across 10 studies

Comparison

Sarcopenia vs non-sarcopenia

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational cohort studies

Authors

JLJie LiuGuiyang College of Traditional Chinese Medicine ZLZhen LiAffiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University YBYanhong BiAffiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Should prompt AF monitoring in sarcopenic adults; leaves open whether treating sarcopenia prevents incident AF.

Key Points

To quantify the association between sarcopenia and the risk of developing atrial fibrillation using observational cohort studies.
Searched PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and major conference sessions from database inception to 15 August 2025 without language restrictions.
Included 10 observational studies (9 prospective cohorts and 1 cross-sectional study) comprising 7,358,442 total participants.
Pooled multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios using a DerSimonian–Laird random-effects model, assessing heterogeneity with the I2 statistic.
Sarcopenia significantly increased the risk of incident atrial fibrillation across 10 studies (pooled HR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.22–1.68; I2 = 93.5%, P < 0.001).
Risk was higher when diagnosed by comprehensive criteria combining low muscle mass and impaired function (HR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.49–2.15) than by impaired muscle function alone (HR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.05–1.50).
Increased risk persisted across diverse subgroups, with hazard ratios ranging from 1.22 in younger individuals to 1.97 in women.

Study Design

Type

Meta-Analysis (n=7,358,442)

Structured PICO

Does sarcopenia increase the risk of atrial fibrillation onset in adults?

Population

Adults from observational cohort studies

Intervention

Sarcopenia (sole or combined components of low muscle mass and impaired muscle function)

Comparator

Non-sarcopenia individuals

Outcome

Risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) onsethard clinical

Main Result

Effect estimate: HR 1.44 (95% CI 1.22-1.68)

p-value: p=0.001

Sarcopenia is associated with a 44% increased risk of incident atrial fibrillation, independent of sex, age, BMI, and physical activity.

Limitations

Potential unmeasured confounding due to the observational design of included studies
Varying confounding factors adjusted across the different studies
Inclusion of studies using non-comprehensive criteria for sarcopenia
Substantial heterogeneity among the included studies
Limited number of included studies in physical activity categories

Cite This Study

synapsesocial.com/papers/69d1fb20a79560c99a0a18f3 https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2026.1721219

Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

Topics

Atrial fibrillation Persistent AF management

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