302 Pathogenesis of AF and other conduction disorders

Question 1

What is AF?

Answer 1

A supraventricular tachyarrhythmia with uncoordinated atrial electrical activation and consequently ineffective atrial contraction

Irregularly irregular R-R intervals (when atrioventricular conduction is intact)

-Absence of distinct repeating P waves
Irregular atrial activations

Question 2

What are the different categories of AF?

Answer 2

First diagnosed: AF not diagnosed before

Paroxysmal: AF that terminates spontaneously with intervention within 7 days

Persistent: AF that is continuously sustained longer than 7 days

Longstanding persistent: continuous AF >12 months when rhythm control strategy adopted

Permanent: AF accepted by the patient and doctor

Question 3

Name some AF-related outcomes?

Answer 3

Death
Stroke
Heart failure
Cognitive decline/vascular dementia
Depression
Impaired quality of life
Hospitalisations

Question 4

What are the risk factors for AF?

Answer 4

-Heart failure
-Valve disease
-Hypertension
-Diabetes
-Chronic kidney disease
-Inflammatory disease
-COPD
-Obstructive sleep apnoea
-Obesity
-Smoking
-Alcohol consumption
-Lipid profile
-Physical inactivity
-Valvular disease

Question 5

Which foods increase AF?

Answer 5

-Alcohol
-High glycaemic index foods
-Caffeine (high consumption)
-Tyramine
-Sodium

Question 6

Which foods decrease AF?

Answer 6

-Mediterranean diet
-Virgin oil
-Magnesium
-Resveratrol
-Caffeine (moderate consumption)
-Lean fish
-Ascorbic acid