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Review
. 2023 Jul-Aug;31(4):177-184.
doi: 10.1097/CRD.0000000000000479. Epub 2022 Oct 25.

Alcohol and Atrial Fibrillation: A Pathophysiologic Perspective

Risheek Kaul  1 , Ridhima Kaul  2 , Pradipta Paul  2 , Victoria Maksymiuk  3 , William H Frishman  3 , Wilbert S Aronow  1
Affiliations
Review

Alcohol and Atrial Fibrillation: A Pathophysiologic Perspective

Risheek Kaul et al. Cardiol Rev. 2023 Jul-Aug.

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. Its burden on patients and the health care system is only expected to increase. Several studies have established a dose-response relationship between the amount and frequency of alcohol consumption and the incidence of new onset AF independent of sex, age, and other risk factors. This causal relationship is mediated by the impact alcohol consumption has on conduction properties of the atrium, structural and cellular effect on cardiac myocytes, and dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system. This article reviews the current literature supporting the link between alcohol consumption and AF while attempting to provide an insight into pathophysiological mechanisms.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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