The American Journal of Medicine
Volume 123, Issue 3 , Pages 198-204 , March 2010

Atrial Fibrillation in Heart Failure: A Comprehensive Review

  • Prakash C. Deedwania, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, Calif
    • Department of Cardiology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Fresno, Calif
    • Corresponding Author InformationRequests for reprints should be addressed to Prakash C. Deedwania, MD, Division of Cardiology, VA Medical Center, 2615 E Clinton Avenue, Fresno, CA 93703
    • ,
  • Joel A. Lardizabal, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Cardiology, University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, Fresno Medical Education Program, Fresno

References 

  1. Lloyd-Jones D, Larson M, Leip E, et al. Lifetime risk for developing congestive heart failure: the Framingham Heart Study. Circulation. 2002;106:3068–3072
  2. Lloyd-Jones D, Adams R, Carnethon M, et al. American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee Heart disease and stroke statistics—2009 update: a report from the American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. Circulation. 2009;119:e21–e181
  3. Lloyd-Jones D, Wang T, Leip E, et al. Lifetime risk for development of atrial fibrillation: the Framingham Heart Study. Circulation. 2004;110:1042–1046
  4. Miyasaka Y, Barnes ME, Bailey KR, et al. Mortality trends in patients diagnosed with first atrial fibrillation: a 21-year community-based study. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2007;49:986–992
  5. Benjamin EJ, Levy D, Vaziri SM, et al. Independent risk factors for atrial fibrillation in a population-based cohort: the Framingham Heart Study. JAMA. 1994;271:840–844
  6. The SOLVD Investigators. Effect of enalapril on mortality and the development of heart failure in asymptomatic patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fractions. N Engl J Med. 1992;327:685–691
  7. Deedwania PC, Singh BN, Ellenbogen K, et al. Spontaneous conversion and maintenance of sinus rhythm by amiodarone in patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation: observations from the veterans affairs congestive heart failure survival trial of antiarrhythmic therapy (CHF-STAT). Circulation. 1998;98:2574–2579
  8. Pedersen OD, Bagger H, Keller N, et al. Efficacy of dofetilide in the treatment of atrial fibrillation-flutter in patients with reduced left ventricular function: a Danish investigation of arrhythmia and mortality on dofetilide (DIAMOND) substudy. Circulation. 2001;104:292–296
  9. MERIT-HF Study group. Effect of metoprolol CR/XL in chronic heart failure: Metoprolol CR/XL Randomised Intervention Trial in Congestive Heart Failure (MERIT-HF). Lancet. 1999;353(9169):2001–2007
  10. Carson PE, Johnson GR, Dunkman WB, et al. The influence of atrial fibrillation on prognosis in mild to moderate heart failure (The V-HeFT Studies. The V-HeFT VA Cooperative Studies Group). Circulation. 1993;87(6 Suppl):VI102–VI110
  11. The CONSENSUS Trial Study Group. Effects of enalapril on mortality in severe congestive heart failure (Results of the Cooperative North Scandinavian Enalapril Survival Study (CONSENSUS)). N Engl J Med. 1987;316:1429–1435
  12. De Ferrari GM, Klersy C, Ferrero P, et al. ALPHA Study Group Atrial fibrillation in heart failure patients: prevalence in daily practice and effect on the severity of symptoms (Data from the ALPHA study registry). Eur J Heart Fail. 2007;9:502–509
  13. Solti F, Vecsey T, Kékesi V, Juhász-Nagy A. The effect of atrial dilatation on the genesis of atrial arrhythmias. Cardiovasc Res. 1989;23:882–886
  14. Eijsbouts SC, Majidi M, van Zandvoort M, Allessie MA. Effects of acute atrial dilation on heterogeneity in conduction in the isolated rabbit heart. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2003;14:269–278
  15. Kalifa J, Jalife J, Zaitsev AV, et al. Intra-atrial pressure increases rate and organization of waves emanating from the superior pulmonary veins during atrial fibrillation. Circulation. 2003;108:668–671
  16. Li D, Shinagawa K, Pang L, et al. Effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition on the development of the atrial fibrillation substrate in dogs with ventricular tachypacing-induced congestive heart failure. Circulation. 2001;104:2608–2614
  17. Boyden PA, Tilley LP, Albala A, et al. Mechanisms for atrial arrhythmias associated with cardiomyopathy: a study of feline hearts with primary myocardial disease. Circulation. 1984;69:1036–1047
  18. Yeh Y, Wakili R, Qi X, et al. Calcium-handling abnormalities underlying atrial arrhythmogenesis and contractile dysfunction in dogs with congestive heart failure. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2008;1:93–102
  19. Li D, Melnyk P, Feng J, et al. Effects of experimental heart failure on atrial cellular and ionic electrophysiology. Circulation. 2000;101:2631–2638
  20. Shinbane JS, Wood MA, Jensen DN, Ellenbogen KA, Fitzpatrick AP, Scheinman MM. Tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy: a review of animal models and clinical studies. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1997;29:709–715
  21. Byrne MJ, Raman JS, Alferness CA, et al. An ovine model of tachycardia-induced degenerative dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure with prolonged onset. J Card Fail. 2002;8:108–115
  22. Nerheim P, Birger-Botkin S, Piracha L, Olshansky B. Heart failure and sudden death in patients with tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy and recurrent tachycardia. Circulation. 2004;110:247–252
  23. Dandamudi G, Rampurwala AY, Mahenthiran J, et al. Persistent left ventricular dilatation in tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy patients after appropriate treatment and normalization of ejection fraction. Heart Rhythm. 2008;5:1111–1114
  24. Leonard JJ, Shaver J, Thompson M. Left atrial transport function. Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc. 1981;92:133–141
  25. Rahimtoola SH, Ehsani A, Sinno MZ, et al. Left atrial transport function in myocardial infarction (Importance of its booster pump function). Am J Med. 1975;59:686–694
  26. Raymond RJ, Lee AJ, Messineo FC, et al. Cardiac performance early after cardioversion from atrial fibrillation. Am Heart J. 1998;136:435–442
  27. Shite J, Yokota Y, Yokoyama M. Heterogeneity and time course of improvement in cardiac function after cardioversion of chronic atrial fibrillation: assessment of serial echocardiographic indices. Br Heart J. 1993;70:154–159
  28. Pardaens K, Van Cleemput J, Vanhaecke J, Fagard RH. Atrial fibrillation is associated with a lower exercise capacity in male chronic heart failure patients. Heart. 1997;78:564–568
  29. Clark DM, Plumb VJ, Epstein AE, Kay GN. Hemodynamic effects of an irregular sequence of ventricular cycle lengths during atrial fibrillation. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1997;30:1039–1045
  30. Pozzoli M, Cioffi G, Traversi E, et al. Predictors of primary atrial fibrillation and concomitant clinical and hemodynamic changes in patients with chronic heart failure: a prospective study in 344 patients with baseline sinus rhythm. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1998;32:197–204
  31. Dries DL, Exner DV, Gersh BJ, et al. Atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk for mortality and heart failure progression in patients with asymptomatic and symptomatic left ventricular systolic dysfunction: a retrospective analysis of the SOLVD trials. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1998;32:695–703
  32. Olsson LG, Swedberg K, Ducharme A, et al. Atrial fibrillation and risk of clinical events in chronic heart failure with and without left ventricular systolic dysfunction: results from the Candesartan in Heart failure-Assessment of Reduction in Mortality and morbidity (CHARM) program. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2006;47:1997–2004
  33. Crijns HJ, Tjeerdsma G, de Kam PJ, et al. Prognostic value of the presence and development of atrial fibrillation in patients with advanced chronic heart failure. Eur Heart J. 2000;21:1238–1245
  34. Swedberg K, Olsson LG, Charlesworth A, et al. Prognostic relevance of atrial fibrillation in patients with chronic heart failure on long-term treatment with beta-blockers: results from COMET. Eur Heart J. 2005;26:1303–1308
  35. Fonarow GC. A review of evidence-based beta-blockers in special populations with heart failure. Rev Cardiovasc Med. 2008;9:84–95
  36. Adams KF, Lindenfeld J, Arnold JM, et al. HFSA 2006 comprehensive heart failure practice guideline. J Card Fail. 2006;12:e1–e119
  37. Wyse DG, Waldo AL, DiMarco JP, et al. Atrial Fibrillation Follow-up Investigation of Rhythm Management (AFFIRM) Investigators A comparison of rate control and rhythm control in patients with atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2002;347:1825–1833
  38. Van Gelder IC, Hagens VE, Bosker HA, et al. Rate Control versus Electrical Cardioversion for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Study Group A comparison of rate control and rhythm control in patients with recurrent persistent atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2002;347:1834–1840
  39. Opolski G, Torbicki A, Kosior DA, et al. Investigators of the Polish How to Treat Chronic Atrial Fibrillation Study Rate control vs rhythm control in patients with nonvalvular persistent atrial fibrillation: the results of the Polish How to Treat Chronic Atrial Fibrillation (HOT CAFE) Study. Chest. 2004;126:476–486
  40. Carlsson J, Miketic S, Windeler J, et al. STAF Investigators Randomized trial of rate-control versus rhythm-control in persistent atrial fibrillation: the Strategies of Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (STAF) study. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2003;41:1690–1696
  41. Hagens V, Van Veldhuisen D, Camp O, et al. Effect of rate and rhythm control on left ventricle function and cardiac dimensions in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation: results from the RAte Control versus Electrical Cardioversion for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation (RACE) study. Heart Rhythm. 2005;2:19–24
  42. Shelton RJ, Clark AL, Goode K, et al. A randomised, controlled study of rate versus rhythm control in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation and heart failure: (CAFE-II Study). Heart. 2009;95:924–930
  43. Roy D, Talajic M, Nattel S, et al. Rhythm control versus rate control for atrial fibrillation and heart failure. N Engl J Med. 2008;358:2667–2677
  44. Flaker GC, Blackshear JL, McBride R, et al. Antiarrhythmic drug therapy and cardiac mortality in atrial fibrillation: the Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation Investigators. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1992;20:527–532
  45. Pratt CM, Singh SN, Al-Khalidi HR, et al. The efficacy of azimilide in the treatment of atrial fibrillation in the presence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction: results from the Azimilide Postinfarct Survival Evaluation (ALIVE) trial. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2004;43:1211–1216
  46. Singh BN, Connolly SJ, Crijns HJ, et al. EURIDIS and ADONIS Investigators Dronedarone for maintenance of sinus rhythm in atrial fibrillation or flutter. N Engl J Med. 2007;357:987–999
  47. Køber L, Torp-Pedersen C, McMurray JJ, et al. Dronedarone Study Group Increased mortality after dronedarone therapy for severe heart failure. N Engl J Med. 2008;358:2678–2687
  48. ATHENA Investigators. Effect of dronedarone on cardiovascular events in atrial fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2009;360:668–678
  49. Gaynor SL, Schuessler RB, Bailey MS, et al. Surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation: predictors of late recurrence. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2005;129:104–111
  50. Stulak JM, Dearani JA, Daly RC, et al. Left ventricular dysfunction in atrial fibrillation: restoration of sinus rhythm by the Cox-maze procedure significantly improves systolic function and functional status. Ann Thorac Surg. 2006;82:494–500
  51. Hsu LF, Jaïs P, Sanders P, et al. Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in congestive heart failure. N Engl J Med. 2004;351:2373–2383
  52. Khan MN, Jaïs P, Cummings J, et al. PABA-CHF Investigators Pulmonary-vein isolation for atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure. N Engl J Med. 2008;359:1778–1785
  53. Lally JA, Gnall EM, Seltzer J, Kowey PR. Non-antiarrhythmic drugs in atrial fibrillation: a review of non-antiarrhythmic agents in prevention of atrial fibrillation. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2007;18:1222–1228
  54. GISSI-HF investigators. Effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with chronic heart failure (the GISSI-HF trial): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2008;372(9645):1223–1230
  55. Everett TH, Olgin JE. Atrial fibrosis and the mechanisms of atrial fibrillation. Heart Rhythm. 2007;4(3 Suppl):S24–S27
  56. Healey JS, Baranchuk A, Crystal E, et al. Prevention of atrial fibrillation with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers: a meta-analysis. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2005;45:1832–1839
  57. ACTIVE Investigators. Rationale and design of ACTIVE: the atrial fibrillation clopidogrel trial with irbesartan for prevention of vascular events. Am Heart J. 2006;151:1187–1193
  58. Cleland J, Coletta A, Yassin A, et al. Clinical trials update from the European Society of Cardiology Meeting 2009: AAA, RELY, PROTECT, ACTIVE-1, European CRT survey, German pre-SCD II registry, and MADIT-CRT. Eur J Heart Fail. 2009;11:1214–1219
  59. Ramaswamy K. Beta blockers improve outcome in patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation: U.S. carvedilol study. Card Electrophysiol Rev. 2003;7:229–232
  60. Fauchier L, Grimard C, Pierre B, et al. Comparison of beta blocker and digoxin alone and in combination for management of patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Am J Cardiol. 2009;103:248–254

 Funding: None.

 Conflict of Interest: Dr Lardizabal does not have any relationship with industry and financial associations that might pose a conflict of interest. Dr Deedwania was a consultant and speaker and has been on the Advisory Board of Sanofi-Aventis.

 Authorship: Both authors were significantly involved in all steps of the writing process, including the conception, design, drafting and critical revision of the manuscript, as well as final approval for its submission.

PII: S0002-9343(09)00951-6

doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2009.06.033

The American Journal of Medicine
Volume 123, Issue 3 , Pages 198-204 , March 2010

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution