Is atrial fibrillation an independent marker of cardiovascular risk?

• Published in: Annales de cardiologie et d'angeiologie Vol. 59 Suppl 1; p. S14
• Main Authors: Moubarak, G, Messali, A, Extramiana, F, Leenhardt, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: France 01.12.2010
• Subjects: Atrial Fibrillation - complications; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Humans; Risk Factors
• ISSN: 1768-3181
• DOI: 10.1016/S0003-3928(10)70003-2

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent cardiac arrhythmia and its prevalence rises with age. AF may cause stroke and heart failure but the relationship between AF and mortality is less clear. It is difficult to determine if cardiovascular events in patients with AF are attributable to the arrhythmia itself or if they are merely related to the comorbidities frequently associated with AF. Review of the literature suggests that lone AF (without structural heart disease), a rare clinical entity except in young patients, is not an independent risk factor for mortality. On the other hand, if illnesses usually associated with AF are present (hypertension, heart failure...), AF has a negative impact on outcome in terms of survival and morbidity. Current antiarrhythmic medications have not shown reduction in mortality of AF patients, but new agents and catheter ablation are promising paths to explore in order to decrease AF burden.