Abstract
We conducted the largest meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for AF to date, consisting of more than half a million individuals, including 65,446 with AF. In total, we identified 97 loci significantly associated with AF, including 67 that were novel in a combined-ancestry analysis, and 3 that were novel in a European-specific analysis. The identified loci implicate genes enriched within cardiac developmental, electrophysiological, contractile and structural pathways. Using the UK Biobank, we performed a phenome-wide association study (pheWAS) for 12 AF risk factors. Distinct clusters of variants were associated with AF as well as height, BMI, and hypertension. These results extend our understanding of the biological pathways underlying AF and may facilitate the development of therapeutics for AF.