Atrial Fibrillation and Declining Physical Performance in Older Adults

Atrial fibrillation (AF) has a significant public health burden and conveys profound morbidity and mortality. AF is largely a disease of advancing age because risk doubles with each progressive decade of gaining and exceeds 20% by age 80 years. The aging of the population and accompanying rise in prevalence have magnified its morbidity and healthcare costs. Older adults are at increased risk for both AF and decline in physical performance. AF has been related to decline in physical function, yet most studies have consisted primarily in individuals of younger age (ie, <70 years) and limited quantification of physical performance to exercise testing. Further assessment of the relation between AF and physical function is needed to identify the relations between AF and age-related mobility. Understanding how AF is interrelated with noncardiac pathophysiology in aging may guide AF management and likewise prompt interventions to prevent physical performance decline. In addition, the contributions of AF toward the