Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2025

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
Epidemiology, prognosis, and challenges in the management of hyperthyroidism-related atrial fibrillation
Georgios Kostopoulos1, Grigoris Effraimidis2
1Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ippokratio General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Greece.
Abstract:
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common condition with a global estimated prevalence of 60 million cases, and the most common cardiac complication of hyperthyroidism, occurring in 5-15% of overtly hyperthyroid patients. Additionally, subclinical hyperthyroidism and high-normal free T4 have been associated with an increased risk in the development of AF. Hyperthyroidism-related AF is a reversible cause of AF, and the majority of patients spontaneously revert to sinus rhythm in 4-6 months during or after restoration of euthyroidism. Therefore, restoring thyroid function is an indispensable element in hyperthyroidism-related AF management. Rate control with beta-blockers consists another first-line therapy, reserving rhythm control in cases of persistent hyperthyroidism-related AF. It is still controversial whether hyperthyroidism is an independent risk factor of stroke in nonvalvular AF. As a result, initiating anticoagulation should be guided by the clinical thromboembolic risk score CHA2DS2-VASc score in the same way it is applied in patients with non-hyperthyroidism-related AF. Treatment with the novel direct oral anticoagulants appears to be as beneficial and may be safer than warfarin in patients with hyperthyroidism-related AF. In this review, we address the epidemiology, prognosis, and diagnosis of hyperthyroidism-related AF, and we discuss the management strategies and controversies in patients with hyperthyroidism-related AF.
Related Concept Videos
Increased pulse rate
Many factors can elevate the risk of developing tachycardia. These include advanced age, a family history of arrhythmias, and an...
Disturbances in Heart Rhythm
Arrhythmias are categorized by their speed, rhythm, and origin. A slow...
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class III Agents as Potassium Channel Blockers
Decreased pulse rate
There are specific risk factors that can elevate the likelihood of developing bradycardia. Advanced age is a significant factor, with...
Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmias
ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias I: Sinus Arrhythmias
Types of Arrhythmias
Sinus Node Arrhythmias
Sinus Bradycardia: Originating from the sinoatrial (SA) node, sinus bradycardia involves slower impulses, resulting in a heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute (bpm). Causes include sleep, vagal stimulation, beta-blockers, hypothyroidism,...

