New concepts and approaches to stroke prevention in the new European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation.

摘要

Atrial fibrillation (AF) remains the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia in clinical practice. Hemodynamic impairment and thromboembolic events related to AF result in significant morbidity, mortality, impairment of quality of life and health-service costs. The number of patients with AF is likely to increase 2.5-fold during the next 50 years, reflecting the ageing population [1]. To face the increasing challenge of optimal stroke prevention and rhythm management in patients with AF, guidelines require regular updating to reflect new concepts and advances in management. A lot has changed since the last 2006 joint American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association/ European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines, and recently, the ESC has updated its guidelines for the management of AF with more emphasis on European clinical practice [2].