Are physicians recommending coronary angiographies more than necessary in atrial fibrillation?

Abstract

Angina is a common symptom during atrial fibrillation [ [1] Lévy S. Breithardt G. Campbell R.W.F. et al. on behalf of the Working Group on Arrhythmias of the European Society of Cardiology. Atrial fibrillation: current knowledge and recommendations for management. Eur Heart J. 1998; 19: 1294-1320 Crossref PubMed Scopus (299) Google Scholar ]. However, the prevalence of atrial fibrillation among patients with proven coronary artery disease has been reported as extremely low, varying from 0.2% to 5% [ 2 Cheng T.O. Coronary artery disease as an uncommon cause of atrial fibrillation. Clin Res. 1974; 22: 268A Google Scholar , 3 Haddad A.H. Prchkov V.K. Dean D.C. Chronic atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease. J Electrocardiol. 1978; 11: 67-69 Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (32) Google Scholar , 4 Cameron A. Schwartz M.J. Kronmal R.A. Kosiuski A.S. Prevalence and significance of atrial fibrillation in coronary artery disease (CASS Registry). Am J Cardiol. 1988; 61: 714-717 Abstract Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (159) Google Scholar , 5 Galrinho A. Gomes J.A. Antunes E. et al. Atrial fibrillation and coronary disease. Rev Port Cardiol. 1993; 12: 1037-1040 PubMed Google Scholar , 6 Shen W. Feng Y. Gong L. Atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease. Chin Med Sci J. 1993; 8: 177-179 PubMed Google Scholar , 7 Lokshyn S. Mewis C. Kuhlkamp V. Atrial fibrillation in coronary artery disease. Int J Cardiol. 2000; 72: 133-136 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (29) Google Scholar ].