Valvular heart disease and alcohol consumption are predictors for the progression of paroxysmal to chronic atrial fibrillation.
Paroxysmal AF is a common arrhythmia in the general practice setting, increasing with age and commonly associated with other heart diseases. It sometimes is the initial presentation and then progress to chronic AF. A history of valvular heart disease and alcohol consumption are associated with this progression.
Ruigómez et al. (Mon,) studied this question.