REVIEW PAPER
Effect of obesity on atrial fibrillation
1
Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce, Poland
2
Cardiac Surgery Department, Provincial Hospital, Kielce, Poland
Submission date: 2024-11-28
Final revision date: 2025-03-20
Acceptance date: 2025-04-28
Publication date: 2025-12-15
Corresponding author
Katarzyna J. Mazur
Katarzyna J. Mazur Collegium Medicum Jan Kochanowski University Kielce, Poland
Katarzyna J. Mazur Collegium Medicum Jan Kochanowski University Kielce, Poland
Medical Studies 2025;41(4):307-312
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Obesity is a chronic civilisation disease with multifactorial aetiology that contributes to dysfunction of the entire organism, especially circulatory system diseases. The impact of obesity on the circulatory system is related to haemodynamic, inflammatory, and toxic effects of adipose tissue on the electromechanical activity of the heart. The association between obesity and atrial fibrillation (AF) has gained increasing scientific attention. Obesity has been proven to be an independent risk factor for AF. Haemodynamic, inflammatory, and toxic mechanisms contribute to decreased conduction velocity, and electrical remodeling, which results in alteration of the expression of ion channels, resulting in decreased atrial effective refractory period. Obesity affects the incidence and treatment in AF patients. Changes in eating habits and sufficient physical activity, as well as bariatric surgery, should be part of therapy because it effectively reduces body weight, resulting in the reversal of structural changes in the heart and reducing the risk of AF.
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