AUTHOR=Anselmino Matteo , Scarsoglio Stefania , Ridolfi Luca , De Ferrari Gaetano Maria , Saglietto Andrea TITLE=Insights from computational modeling on the potential hemodynamic effects of sinus rhythm versus atrial fibrillation JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine VOLUME=9 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2022.844275 DOI=10.3389/fcvm.2022.844275 ISSN=2297-055X ABSTRACT=

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common clinical tachyarrhythmia, posing a significant burden to patients, physicians, and healthcare systems worldwide. With the advent of more effective rhythm control strategies, such as AF catheter ablation, an early rhythm control strategy is progressively demonstrating its superiority not only in symptoms control but also in prognostic terms, over a standard strategy (rate control, with rhythm control reserved only to patients with refractory symptoms). This review summarizes the different impacts exerted by AF on heart mechanics and systemic circulation, as well as on cerebral and coronary vascular beds, providing computational modeling-based hemodynamic insights in favor of pursuing sinus rhythm maintenance in AF patients.