The common characteristics and mutual effects of heart failure and atrial fibrillation: initiation, progression, and outcome of the two aging-related heart diseases

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) are common chronic diseases noted in humans. AF and HF share several risk factors, such as age, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. They can interact with each other, while both their morbidity and mortality have been considerably increased. And AF and HF often occur together, suggesting a strong association between the two. However, the underlying mechanism behind this association is not well understood. Among them, aging is the most significant common risk factor, which represents an aging heart and is characterized by fibrosis and decreased number of cardiomyocytes, known as senescence-related cardiac remodeling for both atria and ventricles. Finally, it is proposed that cardiac remodeling is the key link between AF and HF.