This review article provides an overview on the published clinical risk scores related to outcomes of rhythm control strategy or AF progression
Patients with atrial fibrillation ( AF ) are commonly managed with rhythm control strategy , but the natural history of this common arrhythmia leads itself to progression from paroxysmal to persistent or permanent AF , and recurrences are evident despite rhythm control treatments using cardioversion or catheter ablation .
Numerous clinical factors have been associated with outcomes of rhythm control or arrhythmia progression in patients with AF .
The more common factors have been used to formulate risk stratification scores , to help predict the outcomes of rhythm control treatments  or AF progression .
Concomitant obstructive sleep apnea increases the recurrence of atrial fibrillation following radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: clinical impact of continuous positive airway pressure therapy.
BACKGROUND Recent studies have suggested an emerging link between obstructive sleep apnea ( OSA ) and  atrial fibrillation ( AF ) . Patients with OSA are less likely to remain in sinus rhythm after radiofrequency catheter ablation of AF . OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of appropriate treatment with continuous positive airway pressure ( CPAP ) on recurrences of AF after ablation . METHODS This study prospect ively included 153 patients ( 128 men ; 60 ± 9 years ) who underwent extensive encircling pulmonary vein isolation for drug refractory AF .  The st and ard overnight polysomnographic evaluation  was performed 1 week after ablation , and the total duration and the number of central or obstructive sleep apnea or hypopnea episodes were examined . RESULTS Of 153 patients , 116 patients were identified as having OSA . Data regarding the use of CPAP and recurrences of AF were obtained in 82 patients . The remaining 34 patients with OSA were defined as the no-CPAP group . Polysomnography revealed no sleep-disordered breathing in 37 patients . During a mean follow-up period of 18.8 ± 10.3 months , 51 ( 33 % ) patients experienced AF recurrences after ablation . A Cox regression analysis revealed that the left atrial volume ( hazard ratio [ HR ] 1.11 ; 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] 1.01 - 1.23 ; P<.05 ) , concomitant OSA ( HR 2.61 ; 95 % CI 1.12 - 6.09 ; P<.05 ) , and usage of CPAP therapy ( HR 0.41 ; 95 % CI 0.22 - 0.76 ; P<.01 ) were associated with AF recurrences during the follow-up period . CONCLUSIONS Patients with untreated OSA  have a higher recurrence of AF after ablation . Appropriate treatment with CPAP in patients with OSA is associated with a lower recurrence of AF
This review article provides an overview on the published clinical risk scores related to outcomes of rhythm control strategy or AF progression
Patients with atrial fibrillation ( AF ) are commonly managed with rhythm control strategy , but the natural history of this common arrhythmia leads itself to progression from paroxysmal to persistent or permanent AF , and recurrences are evident despite rhythm control treatments using cardioversion or catheter ablation .
Numerous clinical factors have been associated with outcomes of rhythm control or arrhythmia progression in patients with AF .
The more common factors have been used to formulate risk stratification scores , to help predict the outcomes of rhythm control treatments  or AF progression .