Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, its prevalence increasing markedly with age. Atrial fibrillation is strongly associated with increased risk of morbidity, including stroke and thromboembolism. There is growing awareness of the economic burden of AF due to ageing populations and constrained public finances. A systematic review was performed (1990-2009). Cost studies for AF or atrial flutter were included; acute-onset and post-operative AF were excluded. Total, direct, and indirect costs were extracted. Of 875 records retrieved, 37 studies were included. The cost of managing individual AF patients is high. Direct-cost estimates ranged from $2000 to 14,200 per patient-year in the USA and from €450 to 3000 in Europe. This is comparable with other chronic conditions such as diabetes. The direct cost of AF represented 0.9-2.4% of the UK health-care budget in 2000 and had almost doubled over the previous 5 years. Inpatient care accounted for 50-70% of annual direct costs. In the USA, AF hospitalizations alone cost ∼$6.65 billion in 2005. In this first systematic review of the economic burden of AF, hospitalizations consistently represented the major cost driver. Costs and hospitalizations attributable to AF have increased markedly over recent decades and are expected to increase in future due to ageing populations.

AF is predominantly accompanied by decreased protein contents of the L-type Ca(2+) channel and several potassium channels. Reductions in L-type Ca(2+) channel correlated with AERP and rate adaptation, and they represent a probable explanation for the electrophysiological changes during AF.

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Extensive myocardial bridging in the left anterior descending coronary artery was found in a 46 year old survivor of sudden cardiac near-death. Positron emission tomography and dobutamine stress echocardiography revealed ischaemia in the myocardium distal to the bridging. Spasm was excluded as cause of the ischaemia by intracoronary infusion of acetylcholine. Further evaluation of the haemodynamic importance of the bridging using intracoronary Doppler flow velocity measurements revealed an abnormal flow reserve. Dobutamine stress during coronary angiography caused increased mechanical compression during diastole. This was accompanied by multiple premature ventricular contractions. After a debridging operation the flow velocity reserve was normal. The abnormalities found during dobutamine stress had disappeared. Unexpectedly, a spasm was inducible. This may have been due to local oedema or scar formation after the operation. For the evaluation of the haemodynamic importance of myocardial bridging, intracoronary Doppler flow velocity measurements and angiography during dobutamine stress may be helpful in clinical decision making. (Heart 1997;77:280-282) Keywords: dobutamine stress; coronary flow reserve; myocardial bridging; sudden cardiac death Sudden cardiac death in young and middle aged subjects may be caused by (congenital) abnormalities of the coronary arteries. In this report a case of extreme myocardial bridging was found as the precipitating factor for ventricular arrhythmia in a survivor of sudden cardiac near-death.Case A 46 year old man collapsed during lunch in a factory canteen. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was started immediately. On the arrival of the ambulance ventricular fibrillation was present. After defibrillation, sinus rhythm and adequate circulation were established. In the hospital the heart rate was 50 beats/min, blood pressure 130/70 mm Hg, and the patient respired spontaneously.

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