Management of atrial fibrillation

Puneet Kakar¹, Christopher J Boos^1,2, Gregory YH Lip¹

¹Hemostasis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Unit, University Department of Medicine, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK; ²Army Medical Directorate, FASC, Camberley, Surrey, UK

Abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a condition of genuine clinical concern. This arrhythmia increases patient morbidity and mortality, most notably due to stroke, thromboembolism and heart failure. Consequentially, there is a strong impetus to acquire a greater understanding of its natural history and course in order to provide crucial evidence-based treatment and resource allocation in the future. The objective of this review article is to present a concise overview of the management of AF, with reference to the recent evidence-based National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) National Clinical Guidelines for the management of AF.

Keywords: atrial fibrillation, National Institute of Clinical Excellence, guidelines