What every clinician should know about Bayés syndrome

Bayés syndrome is a new clinical entity, characterized by the association of advanced interatrial block (IAB) on surface electrocardiogram with atrial fibrillation (AF) and other atrial arrhythmias. This syndrome is associated with an increased risk of stroke, dementia, and mortality. Advanced IAB is diagnosed by the presence of a P-wave ≥ 120ms with biphasic morphology (±) in inferior leads. The cause of IAB is complete Bachmann bundle blockade, leading to retrograde depolarization of the left atrium from areas near the atrioventricular junction. The anatomic substrate of advanced IAB is fibrotic atrial cardiomyopathy. Dyssynchrony induced by advanced IAB is a trigger and maintenance mechanism of AF. This alteration of the atrial architecture produces atrial remodeling, blood stasis and hypercoagulability, triggering the thrombogenic cascade. The presence of advanced IAB, even in patients without documented atrial arrhythmias, has also been associated with AF, stroke, dementia, and mortality. However, in these patients, there is no evidence to support the use of anticoagulation. Therefore, in patients with advanced IAB, a proactive search for AF is recommended.