Pacing in sinus node disease to prevent atrial fibrillation

Cardiac pacing is the only effective treatment for patients with symptomatic sinus node disease (SND). The majority of patients with SND have several risk factors associated with development of atrial fibrillation (AF) at the time of pacemaker implantation and are therefore considered a high-risk population. Patients with SND can be treated with any kind of commercially available pacemaker pacing in the atrium, the ventricle or both. Pacing in SND can therefore alter atrial and ventricular conduction and atrioventricular coupling. These mechanisms can prevent or contribute to initiation and maintenance of AF during pacing. Different pacemaker modalities and algorithms have been tested to reduce AF in patients with SND in recent decades. To prevent AF in this population, it seems to be important to mimic the optimal electromechanical function of the heart, especially to preserve an optimal atrioventricular coupling.