Key result
Treating sleep disordered breathing is linked to lower AF recurrence after ablation or cardioversion.
Sleep disorders, particularly sleep disordered breathing, are strongly associated with atrial fibrillation through autonomic and mechanical mechanisms, and nonrandomized studies suggest SDB treatment reduces AF recurrence after ablation or cardioversion.
Sleep disordered breathing (SDB), periodic limb movements of sleep, insomnia, sleep curtailment, and sleep architectural changes are associated with cardiac arrhythmias in community-based and clinical cohort studies. Findings appear to be strongest in magnitude and most consistent for SDB and atrial fibrillation (AF). The mechanisms most consistently identified in animal experimental models include autonomic nervous system fluctuations and intrathoracic pressure alterations, the latter resulting in direct mechanical effects on the thin-walled atria. Other studies point toward intermittent hypoxia. Nonrandomized interventional studies suggest that the treatment of SDB reduces AF recurrence after ablation or cardioversion.
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Heinzinger et al. (2026) conducted a review in Cardiac arrhythmias and sleep disorders (particularly sleep disordered breathing and atrial fibrillation). Sleep disorders (sleep disordered breathing, periodic limb movements of sleep, insomnia, sleep curtailment) and treatment of sleep disordered breathing was evaluated on Cardiac arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation recurrence after ablation or cardioversion. Sleep disordered breathing is strongly associated with atrial fibrillation, and its treatment in nonrandomized studies reduces AF recurrence after ablation or cardioversion.
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