Smoking and alcohol use are linked to both breast cancer and atrial fibrillation in women aged 55 and older across multiple regions globally, according to research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Researchers analysed data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 database, evaluating rates of both conditions in 204 countries and territories. They examined exposure to 58 shared and distinct risk factors, including smoking, alcohol use, body mass index, and physical activity.
The analysis found that 39% of countries had similar rates of both breast cancer and atrial fibrillation, whilst 32% were breast cancer-dominant and 28% were atrial fibrillation-dominant. After accounting for multiple variables, smoking and alcohol use were associated with higher rates of both conditions.
Alcohol use was identified as a significant contributor to breast cancer (9.27% of cases) and atrial fibrillation (7.57% of cases). The researchers estimated that reducing alcohol intake and smoking could potentially lower breast cancer risk by approximately 15% and atrial fibrillation risk by approximately 12% worldwide.
High-income nations, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and much of Europe, exhibited elevated rates of both conditions. Researchers attributed this pattern to greater exposure to smoking and alcohol use, higher body mass index, and more sedentary lifestyles compared with Eastern regions.
Study co-author Dr Shu Wang of Peking University People’s Hospital noted this is the first study combining global data with machine learning to demonstrate the relationship between the conditions and their shared risk factors across different locations.
The researchers developed spatial risk maps to guide region-specific prevention strategies. Future research will incorporate genetic and metabolic data alongside socioeconomic factors to develop individualised prevention approaches.
Source: Medical Xpress / Journal of the American Heart Association (2026)
