Relationship between atrial fibrillation and heart failure

Heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are major health issues and often co-exist. HF and AF also share common mechanisms, as well as therapies and treatment strategies. The relationship between AF and HF has not been clarified and, therefore, remains an area of research interest. The choice of optimal treatment is a challenge for AF and HF. Control of rate or rhythm is the most important decision for physicians. New tactics for budgeting and centralized monitoring may have an exciting effect on stroke occurrence. Because it is predicted that AF or HF would markedly increase in the next two decades worldwide, a significant burden on the health care systems in multiple countries will occur. It remains imperative that further research about the epidemiology, mechanism, detection, and treatment of AF and HF is urgently promoted. In this paper, we review the recent progress on the relationship between HF and AF.