Jongnarangsin recommends that patients diagnosed with afib be assessed for the following risk factors associated with osa. How does sleep apnea affect afib. Does Sleep Apnea Cause Afib Sleepapneawithoutcpap These stresses can causes problems with the electrical firing within the heart that can lead to atrial fibrillation. Can sleep apnea cause afib . Age osa is more common after age 40. Does sleep apnea cause atrial fibrillation. After a pause she gasps for air and then goes back to sleep does this sound like someone you know. Sleep apnea can cause drops in blood levels of oxygen and abnormalities in the balance between the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system the latter is the fight or flight response. If so they likely have a condition called sleep apnea. Sleep apnea risk factors. Treating sleep apnea may help those with afib. It is an arrhythmia characterized by an irregular heartbeat that can increase risk for stroke and other heart related complicat...