Atrial Fibrillation, Atrial Fibrillation Treatment, Stroke Prevention

Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia seen in clinical practice. An estimated 2.2 million people in the US and 4.5 million in the EU have AF.22 AF can be intermittent or persistent.4 Symptoms include palpitations, chest pain, fatigue, dyspnoea, lightheadedness, and syncope.33, 34 Cardiovascular causes of AF include hypertension, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, pericarditis, and pulmonary embolism.22, 34
Learn more about atrial fibrillation.

Atrial Fibrillation Treatment

People with AF have an irregular heart rate that may be rapid.4 The diagnosis is confirmed by electrocardiography. Once the diagnosis is established, medical management involves identifying and addressing the cause of the AF and, when possible, restoring a normal cardiac rhythm.4, 33 When restoration of a normal heart rhythm is not feasible, the main goals of atrial fibrillation treatment include controlling the heart rate and minimising the risk of stroke by preventing thrombus formation in the heart.
Learn more about atrial fibrillation treatment.

Stroke Prevention

There is widespread underutilisation of anticoagulant therapy in stroke prevention for patients with AF. The reasons are multifactorial. Some patients refuse treatment because of the inconvenience of treatment with VKAs, which require frequent blood tests to monitor therapy and dosage adjustments, as well as food restrictions. Others may choose to forgo treatment because their fear of bleeding complications may outweigh their perception of likely benefits. Improved physician-patient communication may be required to ensure that all patients are educated adequately about the risk/benefit ratio of anticoagulation in AF.4 In addition, novel approaches to anticoagulant therapy may one day alleviate some of the issues and challenges associated with VKA use.
Learn more about stroke prevention in AF.
Find out more about atrial fibrillation, atrial fibrillation treatment , and stroke prevention.
See also: Acute Coronary Syndrome
See also: Embolism Pulmonary Sign
  • 22 - Fuster V, RydĂ©n LE, Cannom DS, et al. ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the 2001 Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation): developed in collaboration with the European Heart Rhythm Association and the Heart Rhythm Society. Circulation. 2006;114(7):e257-e354.
  • 4 - Lip GY, Tse HF. Management of atrial fibrillation. Lancet. 2007;370(9587):604-618.
  • 33 - Padanilam BJ, Prystowsky EN. Atrial fibrillation: goals of therapy and management strategies to achieve the goals. Med Clin North Am. 2008;92(1):217-235, xii-xiii.
  • 34 - Kannel WB, Benjamin EJ. Status of the epidemiology of atrial fibrillation. Med Clin North Am. 2008 ;92(1):17-40, ix.