Pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation current concepts. Atrial fibrillation af, the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, is an important contributor to population morbidity and mortality. Without treatment, the risk of stroke among people aged over 65 years with af is about one in 20 per year, which is five. The most common causes of af are longterm high blood pressure, coronary heart disease reduced blood. The prevalence of atrial fibrillation af, already the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, is constantly rising, even after adjusting for age and presence of structural heart disease. It promotes hemodynamic function by slowing ventricular response, improving diastolic ventricular filling, reducing myo cardial oxygen demand, and improving cor onary perfusion and mechanical function.
Pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation athogenesis of atrial fibrillation atrial fibrillation af, the most common chronic arrhythmia, affects 35 million americans. Pathophysiological and genetic aspects that guide management. Despite good progress in the management of patients with atrial fibrillation af, this. If not recognised and correctly treated, af can result in significant problems, including stroke and heart failure. This article focuses predominantly on the pathophysiology of the arrhythmia and its pharmacological treatment. Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and often rapid heart rate that occurs when the two upper chambers of your heart experience chaotic electrical signals. The primary pathologic change seen in af is progressive fibrosis of the atria and hence. Af is caused by simultaneously occurring wavelets throughout the left and right atria which propagate randomly. Classification, pathophysiology, and mechanisms of af. The pathophysiology of af has been studied extensively and is a subject of continuing research. Atrial fibrillation af is the most common supraventricular tachycardia and its incidence increases with age. The clinical profile and pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation. In addition, it furnishes background information on basic mechanisms relevant to other.
Atrial fibrillation af is a type of arrhythmia, a condition in which the heart beats with an abnormal rhythm. Atrial fibrillation af, the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, is becoming progressively more prevalent with population aging. Drug treatments include anticoagulants to reduce the. Atrial fibrillation af is the most common arrhythmia estimated lifetime risk, 22%26%.
The aim of treatment is to prevent complications, particularly stroke, and alleviate symptoms. Christine cottrell is the clinical lead for atrial fibrillation, hypertension and. The normal range for a heart rate is 60 to 100 beats a minute. The heart rate in atrial fibrillation may range from 100 to 175 beats a minute. Atrial fibrillation af and heart failure hf are two of the most common cardiovascular diseases. Thus the main goals of treatment are palliative to improve quality of life and relieve. Rate control is an essential part of atrial fibrillation treatment in acute and chronic settings. An arrhythmia that is particularly common in the elderly, af is growing in prevalence with the aging of the population. Pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation request pdf. Rhythmcontrol treatment algorithm for paroxysmal af. Atrial fibrillation symptoms and causes mayo clinic. They often coexist and account for significant morbidity and mortality. Atrial fibrillation af is an atrial tachyarrhythmia characterised by.