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Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
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[Is atrial fibrillation an independent marker of cardiovascular risk?]

G Moubarak1, A Messali, F Extramiana

  • 1Service de Cardiologie, Centre de Référence Maladies Cardiaques Héréditaires, Université Paris 7, Hôpital Lariboisière, France. antoine.leenhardt@lrb.aphp.fr

Annales De Cardiologie Et D'Angeiologie
|January 8, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in older adults. While lone AF may not increase mortality risk, AF with comorbidities negatively impacts survival and morbidity.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Geriatric Medicine

Context:

  • Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, with prevalence increasing with age.
  • AF is associated with stroke and heart failure, but its direct impact on mortality is debated.
  • Distinguishing AF's independent effect from comorbidities is challenging.

Purpose:

  • To clarify the relationship between atrial fibrillation and mortality.
  • To assess the impact of lone AF versus AF with comorbidities on patient outcomes.
  • To review current and potential future therapeutic strategies for AF management.

Summary:

  • Lone AF, without underlying heart disease, appears not to be an independent predictor of mortality.
  • In patients with comorbidities like hypertension or heart failure, AF significantly worsens survival and morbidity.
  • Current antiarrhythmic drugs have not demonstrated mortality benefits in AF patients.

Impact:

  • Highlights the critical role of comorbidities in AF-related outcomes.
  • Suggests that managing associated conditions is key to improving prognosis in AF patients.
  • Points to novel treatments like new antiarrhythmic agents and catheter ablation as promising for reducing AF burden and improving patient survival.

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