Arq. Bras. Cardiol. 2024; 121(1): e20230823
COVID-19 and Atrial Fibrillation: Predicting to Prevent
Lucas Simonetto Faganello
, Leandro Ioschpe Zimerman
This Short Editorial is referred by the Research article "Clinical and Laboratory Data Up on Hospital Admission are Predictors of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Hospitalized Due to COVID-19 Pneumonia".
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common chronic arrhythmia worldwide, with significant morbidity and mortality. The causes for the development and maintenance of AF are multifactorial, with advanced-age patients and comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, and coronary artery disease being at greater risk. Increased sympathetic tone and inflammatory states are also associated with the development of AF.,
The new coronavirus disease pandemic that began at the end of 2019 (COVID-19) quickly spread across the world, bringing catastrophic consequences for public health and the global economy. The infection can lead to illness with varying severities, ranging from mild upper airway infection to severe pneumonia, resulting in severe acute respiratory syndrome requiring mechanical ventilation. Although COVID-19 is primarily a lung disease as a consequence of an immune inflammatory response, cardiovascular system may be involved as well., Cardiac manifestations include myocarditis, heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, and arrhythmias and are associated with increased mortality. The exact arrhythmogenic mechanism is not yet completely known, but hypoxia, myocarditis, exaggerated immune response, myocardial ischemia, electrolyte disturbance, and adverse effects of medications are potential causes.,
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