Table 1 Causes or precipitants of atrial fibrillation

Ischaemic heart disease

Valvular heart disease

Mitral, aortic, or tricuspid valve disease

Cardiomyopathy

Systolic/diastolic dysfunction

Hypertension: systemic or pulmonary

Myocardial infiltration

Myocarditis

Idiopathic

Pericardial disease

Pericarditis

Pericardial effusion

Pericardial constriction

Intracardiac masses

Atrial myxoma

Secondary neoplasms

Conduction disorders

Pre-excitation (e.g. Wolff–Parkinson–White, Lown–Ganong–Levine)

Congenital heart disease

Atrial septal defect

Ventricular septal defect

Toxic/metabolic causes

Alcohol

Thyrotoxicosis

Corticosteroid excess (e.g. Cushing's)

Phaeochromocytoma

Pulmonary disease

Pneumonia

Pulmonary embolism

Interstitial lung disease

Acute respiratory distress syndrome