Current Evidence on Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation

Akboga M. K., Inanc I. H., Keskin M., Sabanoglu C., Gorenek B.

Cardiology in Review, vol.Publish Ahead of Print, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: Publish Ahead of Print
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.1097/crd.0000000000000426
  • Journal Name: Cardiology in Review
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, EMBASE, MEDLINE
  • Keywords: atrial fibrillation, prevention, modifiable risk factors, intervention, OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP-APNEA, PARTICULATE AIR-POLLUTION, ENDURANCE SPORT PRACTICE, ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION, CARDIAC-SURGERY, BLOOD-PRESSURE, CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE, ATHEROSCLEROSIS RISK, MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION, PRIMARY ALDOSTERONISM
  • Eskisehir Osmangazi University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most encountered arrhythmias in clinical practice. It is also estimated that the absolute AF burden may increase by greater than 60% by 2050. It is inevitable that AF will become one of the largest epidemics in the world and may pose a major health problem for countries. Although AF rarely causes mortality in the acute period, it causes a significant increase in mortality and morbidity, including a fivefold increase in the risk of stroke, a twofold increase in dementia, and a twofold increase in myocardial infarction in the chronic period. Despite all the advances in the treatment of AF, it is better understood day by day that preventing AF may play a key role in reducing AF and its related complications. Modification of the main modifiable factors such as quitting smoking, abstaining from alcohol, changing eating habits, and exercise seems to be the first step in preventing AF. The strict adherence to the treatment process of secondary causes predisposing to AF such as DM, hypertension, obesity, and sleep apnea is another step in the prevention of AF. Both an individual approach and global public health campaigns can be highly beneficial to reduce the risk of AF. In this review, we aimed to summarize the current evidence on the relationship between modifiable risk factors and AF, and the impact of possible interventions on these factors in preventing or reducing the AF burden in the light of recently published guidelines and studies.