Atrial fibrillation guidelines for management: what's new?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and can present as either an acute or chronic condition. AF is a global health-care problem with evidence suggesting an increasing prevalence and incidence worldwide ( Chugh et al, 2014 ). It affects 1–2% of the general population around the world and with an increasingly ageing population, estimates suggest prevalence will at least double in the next 50 years ( Camm et al, 2010 ). This article focuses on the changing management and treatment of AF in line with recent evidence and updated guidelines.