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Drug-induced atrial fibrillation
Cornelis S van der Hooft1, Jan Heeringa, Gerard van Herpen
1Pharmaco-epidemiology Unit, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology
|December 8, 2004
Summary
Certain medications can trigger atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common heart rhythm disorder, even in individuals without existing heart conditions. Recognizing drug-induced AF is crucial for timely diagnosis and management, especially in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia.
- AF is frequently linked to cardiovascular conditions like hypertension and coronary heart disease.
- However, various medications can induce or exacerbate AF, even in patients without underlying heart disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the existing literature on drug-induced atrial fibrillation.
- To identify drug classes that may precipitate AF onset.
- To emphasize the importance of considering medication as a potential cause of AF.
Main Methods:
- Literature search of PubMed/Medline and Micromedex databases.
- Inclusion of relevant studies and reference lists.
- Systematic review and discussion of identified drug classes.
Main Results:
- Drug-induced AF can occur in patients with and without pre-existing heart disease.
- Multiple drug classes, including cardiovascular, respiratory, cytostatic, CNS, and genitourinary agents, were identified as potential culprits.
- Drug-induced AF represents a minority of AF cases but is clinically significant.
Conclusions:
- Medications are an important, though often overlooked, cause of atrial fibrillation.
- Identifying drug-induced AF is critical for appropriate patient management, particularly in the elderly who often use multiple medications.
- Awareness of drug-induced AF aids in timely diagnosis and intervention.