Danish researchers analyzed data on 974,732 adults, including 88,612 people recently diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, the most common type of arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). During about a 10-year span, 186,418 of the participants experienced the death of a spouse or partner. The researchers concluded those who had experienced an unexpected loss of a spouse or partner also had a 57 percent higher risk for arrhythmia than those who had not experienced such a loss. The article can be seen in Volume 3, Issue 1 of openheart.