Inflammation and Atrial Fibrillation: An Exclusive Association or an Accomplice to the Cardiovascular Continuum of Additional Risk Factors?

The role of systemic inflammation in promoting cardiovascular diseases has attracted the attention of several researchers. Inflammation can be protective as also being part of the response to infection and injury, playing a role in the defense and healing processes. However, the inflammatory response can persist beyond the original threat leading to chronic inflammation, adverse tissue remodeling, and disease.^,

The inflammation relationship in the occurrence of AF has been a recurring issue for more than 20 years.^, There is increasing evidence suggesting a direct link between systemic or local inflammation and the development of AF. Local cardiac inflammatory conditions, including pericarditis and myocarditis, also increase the incidence of AF, as well as severe coronavirus disease cases. Some studies have demonstrated a link between inflammatory biomarkers and AF, but one of the limitations of these studies is that generally use a single biomarker, resulting in heterogenous findings.^,

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