Atrial fibrillation in young patients

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent arrhythmia worldwide. While mostly seen in elderly, it can also affect young adults (≤ 45 years of age), older adolescent, and children.

Areas covered: The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the current management of AF in young patients. Specific issues arise over diagnostic workup as well as antiarrhythmic and anticoagulation therapies. The future management and diagnostic strategies are also discussed.

Expert commentary: Management of AF in the young adult is largely extrapolated from adult studies and guidelines. In this population, AF could reveal a genetic pathology (e.g. Brugada, Long QT or Short QT syndromes) or be the initial presentation of a cardiomyopathy. Therefore, thorough workup in the young population to eliminate potential malignant pathology

KEYWORDS:

• Atrial fibrillation
• children
• pediatrics
• genetics
• management

Declaration of interest

L Rivard is the principal Investigator of the BRAIN AF trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02387229) and received salary support from the Fonds de Santé en recherche du Québec (FRSQ). This research did not receive any specific grant. The authors have no other 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 apart from those disclosed. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This article was not funded.