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Mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias: focus on atrial fibrillation

M R Rosen1

  • 1Departments of Pharmacology and Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.

The Journal of Gender-Specific Medicine : JGSM : the Official Journal of the Partnership for Women'S Health at Columbia
|October 19, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Atrial fibrillation (AF) affects aging populations, becoming more prevalent in women due to longer lifespans. This review explores AF

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Electrophysiology
  • Aging Research

Background:

  • Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a significant cause of morbidity in the aging population.
  • While initially more common in men over 60, AF ultimately affects women disproportionately due to greater longevity.
  • Understanding the complex mechanisms of AF is crucial for managing this condition in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of atrial fibrillation (AF).
  • To detail the structural and electrophysiological changes associated with chronic AF in humans.
  • To explore pacing-induced models and ionic determinants of AF.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on atrial size, pressure, and structure in chronic AF.
  • Analysis of electrophysiological correlates of AF in human subjects.
  • Discussion of pacing-induced AF models and their ionic determinants.

Main Results:

  • Chronic AF is associated with significant changes in atrial size, pressure, and myocardial structure.
  • Electrophysiological alterations play a key role in the perpetuation of AF.
  • Pacing-induced models reveal important ionic mechanisms underlying AF.

Conclusions:

  • Atrial structure and electrophysiology are intricately linked in the pathophysiology of AF.
  • Rapid heart rates and fibrillation itself induce structural changes in the atrium.
  • The interdependence of AF and myocardial structural changes highlights the complexity of the disease.

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