ð åèç
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è â AF Epidemiology
- 38 million globally; lifetime risk ~ 25%
- 5Ã higher stroke risk
- Most common sustained arrhythmia
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è â AF Classification (2023 ACC/AHA)
- Stage 1: At risk
- Stage 2: Pre-AF (atrial structural / flutter)
- Stage 3: AF (paroxysmal, persistent, long-standing persistent, post-ablation)
- Stage 4: Permanent
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è â CHA2DS2-VASc Score
- C (HF) + H (HTN) + A2 (â¥75 yr) + D (DM) + S2 (stroke) + V (vascular) + A (65-74) + Sc (female)
- Men ⥠1, Women ⥠2 = consider anticoagulation
- 2024 ESC: same thresholds
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è â HAS-BLED
- HTN + Abnormal renal/liver + Stroke + Bleed + Labile INR + Elderly + Drug/Alcohol
- Score ⥠3 = high bleeding risk
- Address modifiable factors
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è â DOAC Choice
- Apixaban: 5 mg bid (2.5 mg if 2 of: â¥80, â€60 kg, Cr â¥1.5)
- Rivaroxaban: 20 mg daily (15 if CrCl 30-50)
- Edoxaban: 60 mg daily (30 if CrCl 15-50)
- Dabigatran: 150 mg bid (110 if â¥80 or bleeding risk)
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è â When to Use Warfarin
- Mechanical heart valve (DOAC contraindicated â RE-ALIGN)
- Moderate-severe mitral stenosis
- Antiphospholipid syndrome (specific scenarios)
- Severe renal failure
- INR goal 2.0-3.0
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è â Cardioversion + Anticoagulation
- AF < 48 hr + low risk: cardioversion without anticoagulation
- AF > 48 hr or unknown: 3-4 weeks therapeutic anticoagulation + 4 weeks post OR TEE for LAA thrombus + immediate cardioversion + 4 weeks post
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è â Rate Control Drugs
- β-blockers (first-line; metoprolol, bisoprolol, carvedilol)
- Non-DHP CCB (verapamil, diltiazem)
- Digoxin (HFrEF)
- Combination if monotherapy insufficient
- Goal: HR < 80 rest, < 110 exercise
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è â Rhythm Control Drugs
- Flecainide / Propafenone: no structural heart disease
- Sotalol: structural OK, QT monitoring
- Amiodarone: most effective but toxic; preferred in HF
- Dofetilide: inpatient initiation
- Dronedarone: less effective but better safety profile
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è â Catheter Ablation Indications
- Symptomatic paroxysmal AF (first-line increasingly)
- Persistent AF
- Failed antiarrhythmic drug
- HFrEF + AF (CASTLE-HF)
- Recently diagnosed (EAST-AFNET 4)
- Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) cornerstone
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è â LAA Occlusion (Watchman, Amulet)
- For patients with contraindication to long-term anticoagulation
- Severe bleeding history, falls, drug interactions
- Reduces stroke risk
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è â Risk Factor Modification
- Weight loss + exercise + alcohol cessation + OSA treatment (CPAP) + BP control
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è â Key Trials
- CASTLE-HF: ablation > medical therapy in HFrEF + AF
- EAST-AFNET 4: early rhythm control > delayed in newly diagnosed
- CABANA: ablation vs medical (specific subgroups ablation better)