NYMC Faculty Publications

Risk Factors Modification in Atrial Fibrillation: A Brief Review

Author Type(s)

Resident/Fellow, Faculty

DOI

10.1080/14779072.2023.2294728

Journal Title

Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy

First Page

7

Last Page

12

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2024

Department

Medicine

Keywords

Atrial fibrillation, lifestyle, obesity, prevention, smoking, stroke

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a supraventricular arrhythmia characterized by fibrillatory waves in the atria with an irregular ventricular rhythm. It is the most common arrhythmia treated in clinical practice. AF is associated with approximately five-fold increase in risk of cerebrovascular accident (stroke) and two-fold increase in cognitive dysfunction and all-cause mortality. Areas Covered: Multiple risk factors have been identified for development of AF including age, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. Primary and secondary prevention strategies aimed at reducing the incidence of AF can have a dramatic clinical and economic impact. Multiple studies have shown that lifestyle interventions can reduce predisposing factors, reverse the pathophysiology behind AF, and decrease disease burden. In this brief review we aim at exploring the current state of knowledge regarding risk factor modifications that decrease incidence and prevalence of AF. Expert Opinion: This is an evolving field of research and further studies to elucidate the magnitude of effect of these interventions as well as the pathophysiological mechanisms driving these effects are underway.

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