Suboptimal management of atrial fibrillation increases the risk of stroke and associated medical costs, highlighting the critical need for adherence to evidence-based treatment guidelines.
Does optimal management and adherence to guidelines reduce the clinical and economic burden of atrial fibrillation?
Suboptimal management of atrial fibrillation leads to significant clinical and economic burdens, highlighting the need for improved guideline adherence.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) places a considerable burden on the US health care system, society, and individual patients due to its associated morbidity, mortality, and reduced health-related quality of life. AF increases the risk of stroke, which often results in lengthy hospital stays, increased disability, and long-term care, all of which impact medical costs. An expected increase in the prevalence of AF and incidence of AF-related stroke underscores the need for optimal management of this disorder. Although AF treatment strategies have been proven effective in clinical trials, data show that patients still receive suboptimal treatment. Adherence to AF treatment guidelines will help to optimize treatment and reduce costs due to AF-associated events; new treatments for AF show promise for future reductions in disease and cost burden due to improved tolerability profiles. Additional research is necessary to compare treatment costs and outcomes of new versus existing agents; an immediate effort to optimize treatment based on existing evidence and guidelines is critical to reducing the burden of AF.
Steven Singh (Thu,) conducted a review in Atrial fibrillation. Suboptimal management of atrial fibrillation increases the risk of stroke and associated medical costs, highlighting the critical need for adherence to evidence-based treatment guidelines.
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