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©2013 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Cardiol. Jul 26, 2013; 5(7): 215-227
Published online Jul 26, 2013. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v5.i7.215
Published online Jul 26, 2013. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v5.i7.215
Atrial fibrillation in heart failure: The sword of Damocles revisited
Muhammad A Khan, Fozia Ahmed, Ludwig Neyses, Mamas A Mamas, Manchester Heart Centre, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester, M13 9WL, United Kingdom
Ludwig Neyses, Mamas A Mamas, Cardiovascular Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
Author contributions: Khan MA wrote the article, Ahmed F and Neyses L reviewed the draft; Mamas MA critically revised the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Muhammad A Khan, MBBS, MRCP, Manchester Heart Centre, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom. muhammad.khan3@cmft.nhs.uk
Telephone: +44-161-2764271 Fax: +44-161-2767956
Received: May 11, 2013
Revised: June 6, 2013
Accepted: June 19, 2013
Published online: July 26, 2013
Processing time: 82 Days and 17.5 Hours
Revised: June 6, 2013
Accepted: June 19, 2013
Published online: July 26, 2013
Processing time: 82 Days and 17.5 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Atrial fibrillation commonly coexists with heart failure and there is growing evidence that it confers an adverse prognostic impact on the natural course of the disease. This review analyses the demographics and relevant literature highlighting this impact as well as the effect of various therapeutic modalities in improving outcomes. Finally some of the future trends in this exciting cardiovascular discipline are discussed.