Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2025

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
28:13

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: February 26, 2013

33.4K

Impact of Obesity on Atrial Fibrillation Pathogenesis and Treatment Options

Rina Sha1, Olivia Baines1, Abbie Hayes1

  • 1Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham Birmingham United Kingdom.

Journal of the American Heart Association
|December 29, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Obesity significantly increases atrial fibrillation (AF) risk through various mechanisms. Weight loss can reverse these changes, but obesity

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Metabolic Syndrome
  • Electrophysiology

Background:

  • Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent cardiac arrhythmia.
  • Obesity is a major risk factor for AF, exacerbating it through direct and indirect pathways.
  • Obesity-related conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and heart failure further elevate AF risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanisms by which obesity mediates AF.
  • To discuss the impact of obesity on AF treatment outcomes.
  • To provide insights into obesity-drug interactions for personalized AF management.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on obesity, AF, and treatment outcomes.
  • Analysis of mechanisms linking obesity to AF, including structural and electrical remodeling.
  • Examination of the effects of obesity on pharmacologic and interventional AF therapies.

Main Results:

  • Obesity-driven remodeling (adiposity, inflammation, fibrosis, oxidative stress, ion channel alterations, autonomic dysfunction) promotes AF.
  • Expanding epicardial adipose tissue is a key mechanism in obesity-induced AF.
  • Weight loss has demonstrated efficacy in reducing AF risk and recurrence.

Conclusions:

  • Obesity significantly contributes to AF pathogenesis through multiple biological pathways.
  • Understanding obesity's impact on AF is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies.
  • Personalized treatment approaches are needed to address obesity-related AF and its interaction with therapies.

Keywords:
antiarrhythmic drugsatrial fibrillationepicardial adipose tissueion channelobesity

More Related Videos

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation23:33

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: February 28, 2012

83.6K
Optimization of Transesophageal Atrial Pacing to Assess Atrial Fibrillation Susceptibility in Mice08:05

Optimization of Transesophageal Atrial Pacing to Assess Atrial Fibrillation Susceptibility in Mice

Published on: June 29, 2022

2.8K

Related Concept Videos

Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in...
507
Pathophysiology of Heart Failure01:17

Pathophysiology of Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a progressive syndrome involving ventricles that leads to inadequate cardiac output. It can be classified based on location and output or ejection fraction. Ejection fraction (EF) is an essential measurement in the diagnosis and surveillance of HF. Reduced EF corresponds to systolic heart failure (HFrEF). However, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming increasingly prevalent. Also known as diastolic HF, this form of HF is related to aging. The...
1.6K
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers01:26

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers

Receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are two critical categories of drugs employed in the treatment of pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). PAH is a disease that causes high blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, resulting in chest pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
TKIs, such as imatinib (Gleevec), are particularly effective in tackling the growth and mitogenic factors that become upregulated in PAH patients. These factors contribute to the...
168
Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management01:20

Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management

Asthma is a chronic pulmonary condition involving inflammation of the airways, hyper-reactivity, and reversible obstruction of the airways. This condition can significantly impact a person's quality of life, making breathing difficult and leading to distressing symptoms.
Asthma is classified as allergic and non-allergic. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander trigger allergic asthma, while factors like cold air, intense emotions, or exercise can induce non-allergic asthma.
405
Pulmonary Hypertension: Classification and Pathogenesis01:30

Pulmonary Hypertension: Classification and Pathogenesis

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a severe health condition in which the mean pulmonary arterial pressure increases to 25 mmHg or more, even when the body is at rest. This high pressure in the blood vessels that transport blood from the heart to the lungs can cause various symptoms, including shortness of breath, can lead to right heart failure, and significantly affect the overall quality of life.
There are various classifications for PH, each relating to different underlying causes and also...
184
Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System01:26

Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System

The activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) contributes to cardiac remodeling, and inhibiting the RAAS is a pharmacological target in heart failure management. As a result, neurohumoral modulation is a crucial treatment principle for managing heart failure. This approach involves using medications like ACE inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), β-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), and neutral...
433