What’s New?

I wish to point out that the interesting and detailed article does not actually offer anything new.

Atrial fibrillation is common in patients with sleep apnea (1). In any form of atrial fibrillation, whether paroxysmal or permanent, and in the absence of structural cardiac disease, the patient should not only be investigated with regard to hyperthyroidism but also in regard to possible sleep apnea. If sleep apnea is present, it should be treated by using continued positive airway pressure (CPAP). It will then become obvious that atrial fibrillation will disappear in a considerable number of patients, or that more patients will respond better to the antiarrhythmic drugs mentioned in the article.

DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2012.0301b

Dr. med. Arved Weisswange

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F-30220-Aigues Mortes

Conflict of interest statement
The author declares that no conflict of interest exists.