Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common rhythm disorder worldwide, becoming epidemic. Heart failure (HF) is a life-threatening disease and addressing it should be a priority. In this paper, we analyse recent progress on the relationship between HF and AF. The interdependence between AF and HF has not been elucidated and therefore remains an area of interest for research. It is estimated that both the incidence of AF and HF will increase significantly in the next decades worldwide, there will be a significant problem for health systems in several countries. It remains imperative to urgently promote additional research on epidemiology, mechanisms and treatment of AF and HF.