A link between A-fib and sleep apnea is no surprise, but why?

[摘要] Patients with atrial fi brillation (A-fi b) are often also diagnosed withsleep apnea, as noted and discussed by Ayache et al (page 709) in thisissue of the Journal. It is well recognized that A-fi b is more prevalent in older patientsand is associated with many comorbidities, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus,coronary artery disease, heavy alcohol use, obesity, and some valvular disorders, inaddition to the association with sleep apnea. While causation (as distinct from association) is virtually impossible to prove from observational and epidemiologic studiesalone, many of the above comorbidities are recognized before the onset of the A-fi b.Sleep apnea shares many of these comorbidities, and thus it is no surprise that a signifi -cant proportion of patients with A-fi b are diagnosed with it. But sleep apnea, with itsassociated intermittent hypoxia, seems to promote the onset or worsen the course ofA-fi b in some patients.

[学科分类] 卫生学