Atrial fibrillation
Stroke prevention, rate or rhythm control, risk factor management, and the traps of pre-excited and valvular AF.
Tier 1Condition
Written with AI assistance and fact-checked against the sources below. For exam study, not clinical decisions. How notes are made
At a glance
- The commonest sustained arrhythmia, rising steeply with age. It causes stroke, heart failure, dementia and death.
- Every patient needs three decisions: stroke prevention, rate or rhythm control, and risk factor management.
- Anticoagulate on stroke risk (CHA2DS2-VA), not on whether the patient is in sinus rhythm or has paroxysmal AF.
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Sources
- National Heart Foundation of Australia and Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand Australian clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation 2018AU/NZNational Heart Foundation of Australia and CSANZ (Heart, Lung and Circulation), 2018
- 2024 ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillationEuropean Society of Cardiology, 2024
- Last updated
- 14 November 2026
What changed
- 14 November 2026 Personal emails, About story and Australian-style copy