Atrial fibrillation and anemia: what do we know and how to approach therapy?

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Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice. Over the past 20 years, the global burden of AF and its related complications has significantly increased both worldwide and in Russia. These trends are alarming and suggest that there is a need to reassess current approaches to the prevention and treatment of AF, as well as to explore new therapies. One promising direction in this topic is the study of the relationship between AF and anemia, since, on the one hand, anemia is common in patients with AF and, on the other hand, that anemia is associated with the risk of developing new cases of AF. Hemodynamic, metabolic, and inflammatory pathways, as well as pathways associated with micronutrient and vitamin deficiencies that affect erythropoiesis, are identified as the main mechanisms of the relationship between anemia and AF. In addition, given the increasing incidence of AF and the high prevalence of anemia in this patient population, it is critical for clinical practice to obtain answers not only to the questions of how AF and anemia are related, but also how anemia affects the course of the disease, including the risks of bleeding in AF patients taking anticoagulants, and which anticoagulant is preferable in safety profile in patients with AF and anemia. In this context, this review discusses the specifics of the relationship between AF and anemia in a comprehensive way and also considers a personalized approach to therapy in these patients.

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About the authors

Olga A. Polyakova

Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education

Author for correspondence.
Email: docpolyakova.olga@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0491-8823
SPIN-code: 5104-9117

Cand. Sci. (Med.), Assistant of the Department of Therapy and Polymorbid Pathology n.a. Academician M.S. Vovsi

Russian Federation, Moscow

A. V. Dubinina

Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education

Email: docpolyakova.olga@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0009-0008-6383-0016
Russian Federation, Moscow

S. S. Telkova

Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education

Email: docpolyakova.olga@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1439-7371
Russian Federation, Moscow

Yu. A. Isaakyan

I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)

Email: docpolyakova.olga@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7614-2836
Russian Federation, Moscow

O. D. Ostroumova

Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education

Email: docpolyakova.olga@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0795-8225
SPIN-code: 3910-6585
Russian Federation, Moscow

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