Alcohol and Illicit Drug Use as Precipitants of Atrial Fibrillation in Young Adults: A Case Series and Literature Review

Background

Atrial fibrillation in young patients (≤45 years) is uncommon. There is the perception that the precipitant in such cases is alcohol, but we also have noted cases related to illicit drug abuse. There are no clear guidelines on the treatment of atrial fibrillation in patients presenting with “lone atrial fibrillation” precipitated by alcohol or illicit drugs.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed young (defined as ≤45 years) patients with “lone” atrial fibrillation who were admitted to the hospital with electrocardiographically confirmed diagnosis of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter, precipitated by either alcohol or illicit drugs, over a 6-year period.

Results

Eighty-eight patients aged ≤45 years were admitted with atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. In 22 patients, (mean [SD] age 33.6 [8.4] years; 20 male), alcohol (n = 19) and/or illicit drugs (n = 3) were found to be the precipitant. One patient required electrical cardioversion, with the remaining patients cardioverting back to sinus rhythm either pharmacologically or spontaneously. Twelve (54.5%) were investigated for atrial fibrillation burden by 24-hour Holter monitoring and the majority also underwent a transthoracic echocardiogram (81.8%). At discharge, 14 (63.6%) patients were treated with anti-arrhythmic drugs and 10 received either antiplatelets or anticoagulants. Most (85%) patients were followed-up for at least 12 months, during which time 6 had further paroxysms; all of whom continued to abuse either alcohol or illicit drugs.

Conclusions

Alcohol and illicit drugs are arrhythmogenic and are associated with atrial fibrillation. Apart from abstinence, the optimal management of such patients and the long-term effects of these substances on the heart and atrial fibrillation recurrences are still unclear.