Atrial myopathy as a precursor to atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) has severe consequences, such as stroke and heart failure, and treatment options are limited.

Known AF risk factors are common, and methods for both identifying subjects with high risk, andpreventing AF, are lacking.

The concept of atrial myopathy, morphological or electrophysiological factors that predispose to AF, has therefore started to gain interest, and some recent research suggests that AF may be preventable.

If high AF risk could be reliably diagnosed, interventions that reduce incident AF could be possible, but first the following goals must be achieved:Reliable and widely available diagnosis of atrial myopathyIncreased understanding of the natural history of atrial myopathyIdentification of modifiable risk factors for development and progression of atrial myopathyStudies of life-style interventions and medical treatments that reduce the risk of AF in patients with a high risk of strokeWe intend to study the natural history of atrial myopathy, and modifiable risk factors for progression, in in the population-based SCAPIS study, that includes a sub-population with repeated 24hECG registrations.

Sodium intake is of particular interest. We will also conduct a registry-based study of sodium-glucose-co-transporter inhibitors and AF risk.

Aspects related to AF and atrial myopathy diagnostics will be studied in a large cohort of clinical patients monitored with ECG for up to 30 days. The time frame stretches over the next five years.