Risk factors for atrial fibrillation
(1) increasing age
(2) cardiac disease (myocardial, valvular or conductive)
(3) extra-cardiac conditions
Myocardial or valvular disease:
(1) ischemic heart disease
(2) hypertensive heart disease
(3) alcoholic cardiomyopathy
(4) hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy
(5) rheumatic heart disease
(6) heart failure of any cause
(7) sick sinus syndrome or other disorder of the sinus node
Extra-cardiac disease:
(1) thyrotoxicosis
(2) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
(3) postoperative (cardiac or noncardiac)
(4) acute alcohol intoxication
"Lone" atrial fibrillation describes idiopathic atrial fibrillation, where no risk factor is identified.
