NHLBI TOPMed: Australian Familial Atrial Fibrillation Study

In the Australian Familial AF Study, a cohort of probands with familial AF was recruited for genetics studies at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. Familial AF cases were identified from in-patient and out-patient populations at St. Vincent's Hospital and by referral from collaborating physicians throughout Australia. Study subjects underwent clinical evaluation with history, ECG and echocardiogram, and informed consent was obtained from all participants. 151 probands aged <66 years at the time of diagnosis were included in this analysis. The control cohort was comprised of age- and sex-matched individuals (n=151) who had no history of cardiovascular disease.

In the current TOPMed study, we have performed whole genome sequencing in European Ancestry cases with early-onset atrial fibrillation (defined as atrial fibrillation onset prior to 61 years).