title: Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation is commonly experienced by patients with heart failure, and as the heart failure progresses and worsens, the more likely the patient is to develop atrial fibrillation. Several factors play into this, including common risk factors, such as advanced age, hypertension, and ischemic or valvular heart disease. Treatment is aimed at anticoagulation, to prevent thromboembolic stroke, and rate control to prevent further hemodynamic compromise. Rhythm control may be beneficial for many patients and this can be accomplished through the use of antiarrhythmic medications, cardioversion, and/or ablation.
authors.affiliation: Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, 2801 L Street, Sacramento, CA 95816, USA. Electronic address: mccullb@sutterhealth.org.
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McCulloch
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004554:Electric Countershock; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants
keywords: Ablation; Atrial fibrillation; Cardioversion; Rate control; Rhythm control; Thromboembolism