Future cardiologyDec 13, 2025

Health risks linked to how metabolism problems, artery disease, and irregular heartbeat interact

GLP-1 Therapies Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Jan 20, 2026

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and coronary artery disease (CAD) are frequently linked, with both conditions associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events.

Obesity, diabetes, and systemic inflammation may drive the coexistence of AF and CAD.
Both AF and CAD are associated with a heightened risk for stroke, heart attacks, heart failure, and cardiovascular mortality.
Management strategies should include not only antithrombotic therapy but also lifestyle modifications and metabolic risk reduction.
Rate and rhythm control strategies are important in managing patients with both AF and CAD.
Emerging pharmacological treatments like GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors could offer additional cardiovascular benefits in patients with CAD and type 2 diabetes.

Simplified

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and coronary artery disease (CAD) frequently coexist due to shared risk factors such as obesity and diabetes. The interrelationship between these diseases carries important therapeutic implications, given the fact that both AF and CAD are associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular events such as stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure and cardiovascular mortality. In this review, we elucidate our current understanding of the epidemiological and pathophysiological links between AF and CAD, with particular focus on the impact of obesity, diabetes and systemic inflammation as common drivers. We discuss the implications for patient management, including antithrombotic therapy, lifestyle modifications and metabolic risk reduction. Beyond antithrombotic therapy, we highlight the importance of rate and rhythm control strategies in case of coexisting of AF and CAD. Novel pharmacological approaches for patients with CAD and type 2 diabetes, such as GLP-1 receptor agonist and SGLT2 inhibitors, provide additional cardiometabolic benefits by reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. Finally we propose a framework for integrated management of AF and CAD that aligns with contemporary guidelines and emerging evidence. This holistic approach, including metabolic risk factor modification, represents a paradigm shift in the care of patients with both AF and CAD.

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Funding

Competing interests

MEWH received payments for lectures from Astra Zeneca and NovoNordisk. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this work.

PubMed

Health risks linked to how metabolism problems, artery disease, and irregular heartbeat interact

Abstract

Full Text

Funding

Competing interests

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