Early Detection of Atrial Fibrillation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an important medical problem, as it significantly affects patients’ quality of life and prognosis. AF often complicates the course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a widespread disease with heavy economic and social burdens. A growing body of evidence suggests multiple links between COPD and AF. This review considers the common pathogenetic mechanisms (chronic hypoxia, persistent inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and myocardial remodeling) of these diseases and describes the main risk factors for the development of AF in patients with COPD. The most effective models based on clinical, laboratory, and functional indices are also described, which enable the identification of patients suffering from COPD with a high risk of AF development. Thus, AF in COPD patients is a frequent problem, and the search for new tools to identify patients at a high risk of AF among COPD patients remains an urgent medical problem.