Etiology

• Advanced age

• Hypertension

• Diabetes mellitus

• Smoking

• Obesity

• Sleep apnea

• Coronary artery disease

• Valvular heart disease (especially mitral valve disease)

• Congestive heart failure (CHF)

• Preexcitation tachycardia. e.g., Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome

• Sick sinus syndrome (tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome)

• Cardiomyopathies

• Pericarditis

• Congenital channelopathies

• Pulmonary disease: COPD, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia

• Hyperthyroidism

• Catecholamine release and/or increased sympathetic activity

  • Stress: sepsis, hypovolemia, post-surgical state (especially following cardiac surgery), hypothermia

  • Pheochromocytoma

  • Cocaine, amphetamines

• Electrolyte imbalances (hypomagnesemia, hypokalemia)

• Drugs: e.g., adenosine, digoxin

• Holiday heart syndrome: irregular heartbeat classically triggered by excessive alcohol consumption, but also sometimes by moderate alcohol consumption, stress, dehydration, or lack of sleep

• Chronic kidney disease [3]

Remember PARASITE to memorize the major risk factors for acute Afib: P – Pulmonary disease; A – Anemia; R – Rheumatic heart disease; A – Atrial myxoma; S – Sepsis; I – Ischemia; T – Thyroid disease; E – Ethanol