The Stiff Left Atrium Is to Atrial Fibrillation as the Stiff Left Ventricle Is to Diastolic Heart Failure.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiovascular disorder present in as many as 9% of subjects aged ≥65 years and costing the United States >26 billion dollars a year. It causes significant morbidity and mortality with 750 000 hospitalizations each year and contributing to an estimated 130 000 deaths each year. Risk factors for AF such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, heart failure, renal disease, heavy alcohol use, sleep apnea, and untreated or uncontrolled hypertension are also the risk factors for both systolic and diastolic heart failure.