Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
Spontaneous conversion of first onset atrial fibrillation
S Lindberg1, S Hansen, T Nielsen
1Geriatric Department, Roskilde Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark. soerenli@hotmail.com
Background/Aim:
We studied all patients admitted to hospital with first onset atrial fibrillation (AF) to determine the probability of spontaneous conversion to sinus rhythm and to identify factors predictive of such a conversion.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed charts of 438 consecutive patients admitted to hospital with first onset AF from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2009. The patients were divided into two groups, recent onset AF defined as AF < 48 h or longer lasting AF, defined as AF > 48 h.
Results:
Spontaneous conversion occurred in 54% (n = 203; 95% confidence interval: 49-59%). In the group with first onset AF < 48 h, spontaneous conversion occurred in 77%, compared with 36% in the group with first onset AF > 48 h. Logistic regression analysis identified duration of AF as a highly significant predictor of spontaneous conversion to sinus rhythm (odds ratio 5.9; 95% confidence interval: 4.0-8.6, P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Spontaneous conversion occurred in 54%, increasing to 77% when AF had persisted less than 48 h.
More Related Videos
08:00Reduction of Iatrogenic Atrial Septal Defects with an Anterior and Inferior Transseptal Puncture Site when Operating the Cryoballoon Ablation Catheter
Published on: June 15, 2015
09:17High-Resolution Endocardial and Epicardial Optical Mapping in a Sheep Model of Stretch-Induced Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: July 29, 2011
Related Concept Videos
Disturbances in Heart Rhythm
Arrhythmias are categorized by their speed, rhythm, and origin. A slow heart...
ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias
Dysrhythmias IV: Characteristics of Bradyarrhythmias
Conduction System of the Heart
The pacemaker cells are located in two primary nodes: the sinoatrial (SA) node and the atrioventricular (AV) node. The SA node pacemaker cells can autonomously depolarize, triggering an action potential that leads to the...
Dysrhythmias III: Characteristics of Dysrhythmias
Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmias