Pacing for atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Epidemiological data from the Framingham heart study indicate that the cumulative incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) over a 22 year follow up was 2.1% in men and 1.7% in women. The prevalence of AF increases with age, doubling with each successive decade, and 70% of people with AF are between 65-85 years old. AF is associated with a three- to fivefold increased risk of stroke, a threefold increased risk of congestive heart failure, and a significant 1.5- to 1.9-fold mortality risk even after adjusting for underlying cardiovascular conditions. Pacemaker follow up physicians often have to deal with AF as a co-morbidity. AF may also be associated with brady-tachy syndrome. A high incidence of AF will be present when we use pacemaker therapy after atrioventicular (AV) nodal ablation for medically refractory AF.