A Narrative Literature Review Addressing Causal, Risk, and Treatment of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract

This study analyzes the causal and risk factors as well as different ways of treating paroxysmal atrial fibrillation to inform healthcare professionals and physicians in order to save many lives from Atrial fibrillation related death. Factually, it is estimated that 12.1 million people in the United States will have Atrial fibrillation in 2030. In 2019, Atrial fibrillation was mentioned on 183,321 death certificates and was the underlying cause of death in 26,535 of those deaths. Also, people of European descent are more likely to have Atrial fibrillation than African Americans. Because the number of Atrial fibrillation cases increases with age and women generally live longer than men, more women than men experience Atrial fibrillation. The study adopted a narrative literature review and Boolean search technique to identify 22 researches and review articles that are related to causal and risk factors as well as different ways of treating paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. As part of the study’s findings, out of the twenty-two articles, five of the researchers, thus 22%, revealed in the literature that Heart palpitation or flutter in the chest is one of the symptoms of Atrial fibrillation. Researchers of 4 articles—thus 18% -- clearly stated in their research that one of the symptoms of Atrial fibrillation (AF) is “patient’s chest pain/pressure”. The study further revealed that some of the causes and risk factors of Symptomatic Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation include the following: Advancing age, High blood pressure, Obesity, Diabetes, Heart failures, European Ancestry, patient’s lifestyles such as smoking and alcohol intake, as well as Chronic kidney disease, and Hyperthyroidism. Above all, this study revealed that Medications, Heart Rate Controls, Heart Rhythm Control, Blood Clots and Stroke Prevention, Electrical Cardioversion, Cardiac Ablation, Catheter Ablation, Surgical Ablation, and Maze Procedure are some of the different options of treating or curing Symptomatic Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation identified in the literature. Therefore, in order for healthcare professionals and physicians to help minimize mortality rate caused by Atrial fibrillation, they should pay more attention to patients’ symptoms, the AF risk factors, and to also align them with appropriate treatment options to help save many lives across the globe.

Keywords: Atrial, Fibrillation, Symptomatic, Treatment, Risk-Factors, Heart, Stroke, Paroxysmal, Cardiac, Arrhythmia, Ablation, Surgical, Maze

DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/107-03

Publication date: April 30^th 2023