title: Management of atrial fibrillation: focus on rate versus rhythm control.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in adults and accounts for approximately one-third of all arrhythmias requiring admission to the hospital. Treatment strategies are determined by the classification of AF, whether paroxysmal or persistent, as well as numerous patient-specific cardiac and medical considerations (eg, pre-existing congestive heart failure or previous myocardial infarction). Thromboembolic risk also influences whether patients are treated with antiplatelet or anticoagulant medications. Several large clinical trials have deemed both rate and rhythm control acceptable treatment strategies for AF. Additionally, nonpharmacologic approaches such as surgical and electroablative options also exist. The clinician must exercise sound clinical judgment when deciding which treatment approach is best suited for a particular patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 0The David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Jay N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Schapira
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Voroshilovsky
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004554:Electric Countershock; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D015607:Stents
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors