Almuwaqqat Z, O'Neal WT, Norby FL, et al. - In the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, researchers investigated if there exists an independent link of elevated NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) and obesity with atrial fibrillation (AF) risk and if the risk of AF development is the highest among those with both high NT-proBNP and obesity. They also determined if obesity development is related to AF risk among those who exhibit a rise in NT-proBNP. They observed the participants (n = 9,556) who had 2 measurements of NT-proBNP and no baseline AF or heart failure, from 1996 to 1998 through 2016. They found a higher risk of AF development in participants with both elevated body mass index and NT-proBNP and without clinically recognized heart failure. A higher risk of AF was evident among those with increased NT-proBNP levels between visits 2 and 4.