Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia with increasing prevalence and incidence.

As our population ages, modern treatment options and decreased case-fatality of cardiovascular diseases are likely to increase the number of patients at risk for AF. AF is a frequent co-existing complication of myocardial infarction (MI). The onset of AF in the setting of AMI requires immediate intervention which should be individualized for each patient. AF associated with MI influences the in-hospital, medium- and long-term mortality. This brief review, based on 41 reports published between 1970 and 2011, focuses on incidence and mortality in patients with AF in MI setting. Possible mechanisms of  AF in MI and treatment options are also discussed.