Atrial fibrillation and obstructive sleep apnea: a fortuitous association?
Leszek, A.; Perrier, A.; Carballo, S.
Revue Medicale Suisse 10(446): 1913-1917
2014
ISSN/ISBN: 1660-9379 PMID: 25438374 Document Number: 675668
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a frequent arrhythmia and is associated with important morbidity and mortality. It is particularly frequent in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), occurring in 3 to 5% of these patients. Numerous studies show an association of these two pathologies, independently of classical cardiovascular risk factors and otherconfounders. A pathophysiological link between repeated apnea and cardiac modifications, inflammation and autonomic nervous system disequilibrium has also been demonstrated. The severity of OSA influences development of AF, and appears to make management more complicated. Success of catheter ablation of AF appears to be inferior in patients with OSA. Whilst more robust studies are required to better define the role of OSA in AF, the existing literature establishes a link between these two entities.