Marcus GM, Vittinghoff E, Whitman IR, et al. - Findings demonstrate association of individual atrial fibrillation (AF) episodes with higher odds of recent alcohol intake, offering objective evidence that a modifiable behavior may impact the likelihood that a discrete AF event will occur.

• Based on patients' self-reports, acute alcohol intake may induce a discrete AF event.

• This is a prospective, case-crossover analysis of patients with paroxysmal AF to objectively determine if alcohol intake heightens risk for an AF episode.

• At least 1 episode of AF occurred in 56 of 100 participants, and an AF episode was found to be related to 2-fold higher odds of 1 alcoholic drink (odds ratio [OR], 2.02) and greater than 3-fold higher odds of at least 2 drinks (OR, 3.58) in the preceding 4 hours.

• AF episodes were also linked with higher odds of peak blood alcohol level (OR, 1.38 per 0.1% rise in blood alcohol level) and the total area under the curve of alcohol exposure (OR, 1.14 per 4.7% increment in alcohol exposure) inferred from the transdermal ethanol sensor in the preceding 12 hours.