Influence of cardiac pacing mode on the long-term development of atrial fibrillation

The maintenance of sinus rhythm and atrioventricular (AV) synchrony is important to ensure optimal cardiac performance, reduce the potential for systemic thromboembolism and minimize cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. 1 Several studies have shown that the use of dual-chamber pacemakers that maintain AV synchrony has resulted in definite hemodynamic and clinical benefits for selected patients, when compared to single-chamber pacemakers. 2–8 The maintenance of AV synchrony may also have an impact on the future development of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with cardiac pacemakers. 9 This study determined the effect of cardiac pacing mode (DDD/DDI vs VVI) on the long-term development of AF in patients who were in sinus rhythm at the time they received cardiac pacemakers. In addition, we attempted to identify clinical variables that were potentially contributory to the development of AF in these patients.