Alcohol consumption and atrial fibrillation risk

Although alcohol consumption is linked to atrial fibrillation (AF), the relationship across different intake levels and between sexes remains unclear. A study published in the Drug and Alcohol Review presents the first network meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies, providing greater precision for these associations.
A systematic review identified five meta-analyses on alcohol and AF risk. From these, 13 cohort studies totaling over 80 million person-years were included in a random-effects network meta-analysis, with sex-stratified analyses.
Compared with low-level consumption (< 12 g/day), moderate intake (12-< 24 g/day) slightly increased AF risk (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.10), and the effect was similar at 24-< 36 g/day (HR = 1.09; 95% CI 1.00-1.20). No significant increase in risk was observed for 36-< 60 g/day. Heavy consumption (≥ 60 g/day) showed the highest risk (HR = 2.84; 95% CI 1.57-5.14). Non-drinkers (‘Former’, ‘Never’ or ‘Occasional’) had HRs near 1, except ‘None’, which showed a slight increase (HR = 1.08; 95% CI 1.04-1.11).
In males, moderate consumption increased AF risk slightly, whereas heavy intake had a more pronounced effect (HR = 1.49; 95% CI 1.22-1.81). In females, moderate intake had no significant effect, but heavy intake significantly increased risk (HR = 2.53; 95% CI 1.05-6.08).
This network meta-analysis shows a nonlinear relationship between alcohol consumption and AF risk. Low-level or occasional intake poses the lowest risk. In males, moderate consumption slightly increases AF risk, whereas in females, risk rises substantially only with heavy intake. These findings support limiting alcohol consumption to reduce AF risk and highlight the need for further sex-stratified studies and consideration of sex-specific recommendations.
Source: Hadi, M., Saha, S., Petrie, D., Woode, M.E., & Gerdtham, U.G. (2026) Alcohol Consumption and Atrial Fibrillation Risk: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Network Meta-Analysis. Drug and Alcohol Review, 45(1):e70089.