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AF Overview
- Most common sustained arrhythmia; 38M globally; lifetime risk 25%; 5Ã stroke risk
Classification (2023 ACC/AHA Stages 1-4)
- Stage 1 At risk â Stage 2 Pre-AF â Stage 3 AF (paroxysmal, persistent, long-standing) â Stage 4 Permanent
Risk Factors
- HTN + Obesity + DM + OSA + Alcohol + Smoking + CAD + HF + Valvular + Hyperthyroid
Diagnosis
- ECG: irregularly irregular + no P waves; wearables (Apple Watch, KardiaMobile)
4 Management Pillars
- Rate / Rhythm control
- Anticoagulation for stroke prevention
- Risk factor modification
- Comorbid disease management
Stroke Risk
- CHA2DS2-VASc: Men ⥠1, Women ⥠2 = consider anticoagulation
Bleed Risk
- HAS-BLED: ⥠3 = high; address modifiable
Anticoagulation
- DOAC preferred (apixaban, rivaroxaban, edoxaban, dabigatran)
- Warfarin: mechanical valve, moderate-severe MS
- Reversal: idarucizumab (dabigatran), andexanet (factor Xa inhibitors)
- LAA occlusion (Watchman, Amulet) for contraindication
Rate Control
- β-blocker, non-DHP CCB, digoxin (HFrEF)
- Goal: HR < 80 rest, < 110 exercise
Rhythm Control
- Cardioversion + antiarrhythmics + catheter ablation (PVI)
- Catheter ablation increasingly first-line symptomatic + HFrEF + early diagnosis
- Drugs: flecainide/propafenone (no structural), sotalol, amiodarone (HF + most effective), dofetilide, dronedarone
Key Trials
- CASTLE-HF: ablation > medical in HFrEF + AF
- EAST-AFNET 4: early rhythm control > delayed
- CABANA: ablation vs medical (subgroups favor ablation)
- LEGACY: weight loss reduces AF burden
Risk Factor Modification
- Weight loss + OSA treatment (CPAP) + alcohol reduction + exercise + BP control
ç§é«åž« hint
- AF stroke prevention: CHA2DS2-VASc + DOAC (preferred over warfarin) for most
- Mechanical valve + AF: warfarin (DOAC contraindicated)
- HFrEF + AF: consider early ablation (CASTLE-HF)
- Recently diagnosed AF: consider early rhythm control (EAST-AFNET 4)
- OSA + AF: CPAP reduces recurrence
- Weight loss: 10% reduces AF burden (LEGACY)
- AF + bleeding risk + canât anticoagulate: LAA occlusion (Watchman, Amulet)