Circadian rhythm of cardiac electrophysiology, arrhythmogenesis and the underlying mechanisms

Cardiac arrhythmias are a leading cause of cardiovascular death. It has long been accepted that life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias (ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac death) are more likely to occur in the morning after waking. It is perhaps less well recognised that there is a circadian rhythm in cardiac pacemaking and other electrophysiological properties of the heart. In addition, there is a circadian rhythm in other arrhythmias, for example bradyarrhythmias and supraventricular arrhythmias.

Source: Heart Rhythm - August 29, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Nicholas Black, Alicia D ’Souza, Yanwen Wang, Hugh Piggins, Halina Dobrzynski, Gwilym Morris, Mark R. Boyett Source Type: research