Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of arrhythmia in the general population with a prevalence that reaches one third of patients with arterial hypertension. Several risk factors frequently associated with hypertension predispose the myocardium to AF by inducing atrial inflammation and fibrosis and altering atrial electrical and mechanical characteristics. AF influences the quality of life of hypertensive patients since it increases incidence of stroke and other thromboembolic events, and mortality. Polyunsaturated fatty acids of the ω-3 family (ω-3 PUFA) have been demonstrated to be beneficial in cardiovascular disease prevention by reducing plasma lipids and blood pressure levels and decreasing the risk of sudden death. These fatty acids can act as potent anti-inflammatory and anti-arrhythmic agents. Many studies have investigated a possible preventive effect of ω-3 PUFA on incident AF reporting contradictory results. This article overviews the evidence currently available on this important topic and provides some conclusive remarks on the possibility that these fatty acids could be beneficial in hypertensive patients.

中文翻译：

---

心房纤颤及其在动脉高压中的并发症：ω-3多不饱和脂肪酸的潜在预防作用

心房颤动（AF）是普通人群中最常见的心律失常类型，其患病率高达三分之一的动脉高血压患者。经常与高血压相关的几种危险因素通过诱发心房炎症和纤维化以及改变心房电和机械特性，使心肌易患房颤。AF影响高血压患者的生活质量，因为它会增加中风和其他血栓栓塞事件的发生率以及死亡率。ω-3家族的多不饱和脂肪酸（ω-3PUFA）已被证明可通过降低血浆脂质和血压水平并降低猝死风险来预防心血管疾病。这些脂肪酸可以作为有效的抗炎和抗心律不齐药物。许多研究已经调查了ω-3PUFA对AF事件的报告结果相互矛盾的可能的预防作用。本文概述了有关该重要主题的现有证据，并就这些脂肪酸对高血压患者有益的可能性提供了结论性意见。