Lifestyle management to prevent and treat atrial fibrillation

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia with a one in four lifetime risk in adults over the age of forty. Traditionally, AF management has focused on the three pillars of rate control, rhythm control and appropriate anticoagulation to reduce stroke risk. More recently, the importance of cardiovascular risk factor management in AF has emerged as a fourth and essential pillar with improved patient outcomes.

Areas covered: Here, we aim to summarize the current available evidence for the association between various modifiable risk factors and AF, and to identify optimal treatment targets to improve outcomes.

Expert Commentary: Care for AF patients utilizing an integrated approach and aggressive lifestyle management may reduce the enormous burden of this arrhythmia.

KEYWORDS:

• Atrial fibrillation
• risk factor
• lifestyle modification
• integrated care
• multidisciplinary care

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.