Expert consensus document: Defining the major health modifiers causing atrial fibrillation: a roadmap to underpin personalized prevention and treatment

L. Fabritz*, E. Guasch, C. Antoniades, I. Bardinet, G. Benninger, T.R. Betts, E. Brand, G. Breithardt, G. Bucklar-Suchankova, A.J. Camm, D. Cartlidge, B. Casadei, W.W. Chua, Harry Crijns, J. Deeks, S. Hatem, F. Hidden-Lucet, S. Kääb, N. Maniadakis, S. MartinL. Mont, H. Reinecke, M.F. Sinner, Ulrich Schotten, T. Southwood, Monika Stoll, P. Vardas, R. Wakili, A. West, A. Ziegler, P. Kirchhof

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Despite remarkable advances in antiarrhythmic drugs, ablation procedures, and stroke-prevention strategies, atrial fibrillation (AF) remains an important cause of death and disability in middle-aged and elderly individuals. Unstructured management of patients with AF sharply contrasts with our detailed, although incomplete, knowledge of the mechanisms that cause AF and its complications. Altered calcium homeostasis, atrial fibrosis and ageing, ion-channel dysfunction, autonomic imbalance, fat-cell infiltration, and oxidative stress, in addition to a susceptible genetic background, contribute to the promotion, maintenance, and progression of AF. However, clinical management of patients with AF is currently guided by stroke risk parameters, AF pattern, and symptoms. In response to this apparent disconnect between the known pathophysiology of AF and clinical management, we propose a roadmap to develop a set of clinical markers that reflect the major causes of AF in patients. Thereby, the insights into the mechanisms causing AF will be transformed into a format that can underpin future personalized strategies to prevent and treat AF, ultimately informing better patient care.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)230-237
Number of pages8
JournalNature Reviews Cardiology
Volume13
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2016

Keywords

  • RANDOMIZED CLINICAL-TRIAL
  • LEFT-VENTRICULAR DYSFUNCTION
  • LATE GADOLINIUM ENHANCEMENT
  • PULMONARY VEIN ISOLATION
  • CHRONIC KIDNEY-DISEASE
  • LONG-QT SYNDROME
  • CONSENSUS CONFERENCE
  • NERVE-STIMULATION
  • EUROPEAN-SOCIETY
  • RISK-FACTOR

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