Furthermore, 9 potential crucial genes (IGFBP2, IGFBP3, CHGB, CXCR4, HTR2B, FHL2, C1orf105, ATP1B4 and SLC26A9), and several important pathways, which were associated with AF risk, were identified, suggesting these may play important role in the mechanism of AF. Here, SLC26A9 is linked to atrial fibrillation.