Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a supraventricular tachyarrhythmia characterized by chaotic atrial electrical activity. It is associated with heart failure, stroke, and reduced quality of life. AF is frequently recurrent and refractory to treatment. These facts underscore the importance of recognizing this arrhythmia even in its asymptomatic form. This review covers the pathophysiology, stabilization and assessment, diagnosis and treatment, and disposition and outcomes of AF. Figures show AF, atrial flutter, and AF with preexcitation on a 12-lead electrocardiogram, rate control agent selection recommendations, and a decision-making algorithm for oral anticoagulation therapy. Tables list etiologies and risk factors for AF, American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology/Heart Rhythm Society classification of AF, some of the clinical consequences of AF, diagnostic evaluation for AF, antiarrhythmic drugs for conversion of AF, drugs used for acute rate control of AF, CHA2DS2-VASc score calculation, CHA2DS2-VASc adjusted stroke rate and treatment guidelines, scoring system to assess the risk of bleeding with oral anticoagulation: HAS-BLED (hypertension, abnormal renal/liver function, history of stroke, bleeding history or predisposition, labile international normalized ratio, elderly [65 years], drugs/alcohol concomitant), and HAS-BLED scores with proportion of patients from the Euro Heart Survey in each category and associated major bleeding risk. This review contains 5 highly rendered figures, 10 tables, and 69 references Key words: Atrial fibrillation; Supraventricular tachycardia; Irregular heart beat; Cardioversion; Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation; Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation; Rate control; CHA2DS2-VASc scoring system; Rhythm control