TY - JOUR
T1 - Atrial fibrillation and its association with sudden cardiac death
AU - Chen, Lin Yee
AU - Benditt, David G
AU - Alonso, Alvaro
PY - 2014
Y1 - 2014
N2 - Evidence is emerging to indicate that atrial fibrillation (AF) is independently associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). This association has been consistently observed in specific patient subgroups such as patients with myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure, and hypertension, and importantly, in the general population. Data from studies of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator recipients suggest that the rapid and irregular rhythm of AF and the short-long-short cycles that are highly prevalent in AF increase susceptibility to ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. An alternative explanation for the association between AF and SCD includes confounding or mediation by shared risk factors such as coronary artery disease and heart failure. Possible risk factors for SCD in patients with AF include black race, left ventricular hypertrophy, history of MI, and diabetes. Additional research is needed to confirm the inherent proarrhythmic nature of AF, identify patients' characteristics or clinical conditions that potentiate SCD risk, and define effective SCD prevention strategies for patients with AF. (Circ J 2014; 78: 2588-2593).
AB - Evidence is emerging to indicate that atrial fibrillation (AF) is independently associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). This association has been consistently observed in specific patient subgroups such as patients with myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure, and hypertension, and importantly, in the general population. Data from studies of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator recipients suggest that the rapid and irregular rhythm of AF and the short-long-short cycles that are highly prevalent in AF increase susceptibility to ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. An alternative explanation for the association between AF and SCD includes confounding or mediation by shared risk factors such as coronary artery disease and heart failure. Possible risk factors for SCD in patients with AF include black race, left ventricular hypertrophy, history of MI, and diabetes. Additional research is needed to confirm the inherent proarrhythmic nature of AF, identify patients' characteristics or clinical conditions that potentiate SCD risk, and define effective SCD prevention strategies for patients with AF. (Circ J 2014; 78: 2588-2593).
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U2 - 10.1253/circj.CJ-14-0814
DO - 10.1253/circj.CJ-14-0814
M3 - Review article
C2 - 25262841
AN - SCOPUS:84933544034
SN - 1346-9843
VL - 78
SP - 2588
EP - 2593
JO - Circulation journal : official journal of the Japanese Circulation Society
JF - Circulation journal : official journal of the Japanese Circulation Society
IS - 11
ER -