Identifying the association is important as treatment of the obstructive sleep apnea is often associated with an improved control of the atrial fibrillation and maintenance of rhythm control post cardioversion, reports Cardiac Rhythm News.
Moreover, atrial structural remodelling and conduction changes can occur with prolonged exposure to obstructive sleep apnoea over time, which consequently impairs treatment by all modalities if left untreated.
The association between OSA and
A Fib has been known for many years ( Virend Somers, Mayo Clinic cardiology). It has been estimated that the prevalence of OSA in A Fib patients approaches 50% and, although unproven, the OSA could be causal. What is known is that when patients are cardioconverted the likelihood of the A Fib returning is extremely high if the OSA remains untreated. Given this phenomenon and the high prevalence of OSA in these patients a simple and cheap home sleep study should be done in all patients with A Fib. With unequivocal sleep data there is no need to guess.
The prevalence of OSA in A Fib patients has been known for some time and it has been noted that unless the OSA is properly treated, patients who have been cardio converted are likely to have the A Fib return. (Virend Somers, Mayo Clinic, cardiology). Given the prevalence of OSA in A Fib patients and the aforementioned phenomenon all A Fib should have a home sleep test. Many devices exist on the market and the tests are easy to perform, sensitive and specific, as well as relatively cheap.