aetiology
Last reviewed 01/2018
Causes include:
- mitral valve disease
- alcoholic heart disease - alcohol is the most common cause in men under 60
- thyrotoxicosis
- ischaemic heart disease
- atrio-septal defect
- idiopathic - about 15-20% of cases of permanent atrial fibrillation and approximately 50% of cases of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation are idiopathic (1)
Reference:
- Pulse (2003), 63 (42), 96.