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&#39;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).