title: [Lone atrial fibrillation--relevance for medical underwriting].
abstract: Atrial fibrillation is a common and multifaceted cardiac arrhythmia. At present rhythm and rate control can be considered equal regarding morbidity and mortality. Following scientific findings in the past years new therapeutic strategies and treatment options were developed. Therefore, a decision must be made not only between rate and rhythm control but also between the different antithrombotic drug regimes. Oral thrombin and factor X inhibitors herald a new era in antithrombotic therapy. The lack of necessity for routine INR monitoring certainly constitutes one of the greatest advantages of these novel agents in everyday clinical practice. Pulmonary vein isolation is a catheter-based treatment option for atrial fibrillation enabling the cure of arrhythmias for many patients--despite the high rate of recurrence. Many of these new therapeutical options lack long-term findings and previous successes are to be regarded with certain prudence.
authors.affiliation: Aus der Munich Re, München.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Filzmaier
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents