Atrial Fibrillation - A Concise Review

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia characterized by rapid, irregular electrical activity in the atria of the heart. AF is a prevalent condition, affecting millions of individuals worldwide, and its incidence increases with age. Risk factors for AF include hypertension, aging,...

• Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a supraventricular arrhythmia characterized by uncoordinated atrial electrical activation and ineffective atrial contraction, resulting in irregular fibrillatory waves on ECG. Common causes include hypertension, coronary artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart defects, heart failure, myocarditis, and cardiomyopathies. Systemic causes involve hyperthyroidism, obstructive sleep apnea, obesity, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney failure, and pulmonary embolism.