August 24, 2012EP Europace3,834 citationsOpen Access
View Full Paper2012 focused update of the ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation
Key Result
Atrial fibrillation affects 1.5-2% of the general population in the developed world and is associated with a five-fold risk of stroke and a three-fold incidence of congestive heart failure.
Structured PICO
P
Population
Patients with atrial fibrillation
I
Intervention
Guideline-directed management of atrial fibrillation
This document provides a focused update to the ESC guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation, addressing its growing prevalence and associated risks.
Abstract
The current estimate of the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the developed world is approximately 1.5–2% of the general population, with the average age of patients with this condition steadily rising, such that it now averages between 75 and 85 years. The arrhythmia is associated with a five-fold risk of stroke and a three-fold incidence of congestive heart failure, and higher mortality. Hospitalization of patients with AF is also very common. This arrhythmia is a major cardiovascular challenge in modern society and its medical, social and economic aspects are all set to worsen over the coming decades. Fortunately a number of valuable treatments have been devised in recent years that may offer some solution to this problem.