Atrial Fibrillation and Coronary Artery Disease: Focus on Epidemiology and Pathophysiology in the Context of Comorbidity

Atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease (CAD) are a common and clinically significant comorbidity. Based on various epidemiological studies, it is believed that the relationship between atrial fibrillation and CAD is complex and much closer than a mere coincidence. These two diseases share common risk factors that influence the underlying mechanisms of their development, contributing to a vicious cycle of their onset and progression. In this case, CAD can be both a cause and a consequence of atrial fibrillation. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate and compare the opinions of authors of various publications on the interactions between atrial fibrillation and CAD, taking into account the epidemiology and pathophysiological interactions between them. Materials and methods. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and MetaAnalyses) 2020 methodology was used to select relevant publications. According to these guidelines, 597 articles on the stated topic were identified in the PubMed and eLibrary.ru search engines. At the final stage, 74 English-language publications and 16 Russian-language publications were included in the review. Existing opinions in various publications often complement one other, although they are sometimes contradictory, requiring further in-depth research in this area. The pathophysiological findings suggest that these two diseases can form a vicious cycle, exacerbating each other. Understanding these interrelated mechanisms allows for a transition from symptomatic treatment to a pathogeneticallyfocused strategy aimed at breaking the vicious cycles linking atrial fibrillation and CAD.