Eysenck W, et al. - Among 67 patients (aged 66 to 86, 53% male) with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), researchers determined the influence of AF intervention on 6-month home sleep testing data. In a randomized manner, the participants were assigned (1:1:1) to direct current cardioversion (DCCV) (22 patients), permanent pacemaker (PPM) + atrioventricular node ablation (AVNA) + DCCV (22 patients) or AF ablation (23 patients). Using the Watch-PAT200, they recorded baseline and 6-month multichannel home sleep tests. Findings revealed a high prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in patients with persistent AF. A significant reduction in apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) was observed in relation to restoration of sinus rhythm, and the associated long-term recovery of haemodynamics. This implicates reversal of fluid shift from the lower limbs to the neck region, a key mechanism in the pathogenesis of SDB.