A number of well-done studies have shown an increase in the risk of atrial fibrillation to be associated with heavy alcohol intake or with alcoholism. Most previous studies suggest little if any increase in risk from light-to-moderate drinking.
The present study was a meta-analysis based on 14 studies from Europe or North America. It showed an increase in risk with alcohol, but there were limited dose-response data to determine if there was a threshold above which the risk was increased.
Overall, the scientific evidence from many studies suggests that at least heavy drinking may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation, although whether light-to-moderate intake increases the risk seems unlikely.
Previous basic scientific data of mechanisms of atrial fibrillation have suggested that alcohol has little effect on this arrhythmia.
