Education and Atrial Fibrillation: Mendelian Randomization Study

Low social-economic status is associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), but the extent of any causative effect is unclear. In the present study, we evaluated the causal role of educational attainment (EA) on AF using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Results from traditional single-variable MR indicated a modest causal effect of EA on AF. Sensitivity analyses using different MR methods yielded consistent results. Multi-variable MR and mediation analysis revealed that the protective effect of higher EA on AF was partially mediated by reducing cardiometabolic risk factors and smoking behavior. Our findings suggest that extending education, for example increasing school-leaving age, could lower the global burden of AF.