UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Cardiology

Title: Atrial Fibrillation

Keywords: Atrial fibrillation, a fib (PubMed Search)

Posted: 7/15/2012 by Semhar Tewelde, MD (Updated: 4/18/2024)
Click here to contact Semhar Tewelde, MD

Atrial fibrillation is most commonly associated with cardiovascular disease

Non cardiac causes: pulmonary disease/PE, hyperthyroidism, sympathomimetics, drugs/ETOH

AFFIRM & RACE trials compared outcomes of a fib patients treated w/ rate vs. rhythm control

- No significant difference in survival between groups

Risk of thromboembolic CVA

- Rhythm control = Rate control + anticoagulation

New data challenges the need for strict heart rate control

- Resting heart rate should be <110 bpm

Use CHADS2 score to identify who requires anticoagulation based on %risk of emboli

- Chronic heart failure, HTN, Age>75, DM, Stroke/TIA

Atrial Fibrillation. Bontempo L, Goralnick E. Emerg Med Clin N Am 29 (2011)747-758.