'Patients with atrial fibrillation had a 4 times increased risk of mortality compared with the general population. However, the impact of atrial fibrillation on mortality decreased with age and in men. Cerebral infarction was the most common cause of death, and more attention should be paid to reducing the risk of stroke.'

'It is estimated that serious ventricular tachyarrhythmias are responsible for death in nearly 50% of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Most of these patients succumb to these tachyarrhythmias before receiving medical aid'

Current available data indicates that Indian patients with AF are different from Western patients; Indian patients are younger but in approx. 30-40% cases it is due to rheumatic heart issues. Hence more proportion of Indian patients have persistent or permanent AF thus representing a high risk of stroke. However, more studies are required in India to understand this disease better.¹

Clinical studies show that N-3 PUFA or fish oil supplementation appears to reduce mortality and sudden death. Coenzyme Q10, used in treatment of heart failure, and carnitine and its derivatives may have beneficial effects on arrhythmias, although clinical studies have been limited. Antioxidant supplements may be beneficial, but large studies with vitamin E have been disappointing in that it does not reduce mortality.⁴

The 'p300-HAT' inhibitory effects of curcumin have been demonstrated to ameliorate the development of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure in animal models. The inflammatory effects of curcumin may have the possibility of preventing atrial arrhythmias and the possible effect of curcumin for correcting the Ca2+ homeostasis may play a role in the prevention of some ventricular arrhythmias.⁴