Can we improve outcomes in AF patients by early therapy?

BMC Medicine
Paulus Kirchhof

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation affects at least 1% of the population and causes marked society-wide morbidity and mortality. Current management of atrial fibrillation including antithrombotic therapy and management of concomitant conditions in all patients, rate control therapy in most patients, and rhythm control therapy in patients with severe atrial fibrillation-related symptoms can alleviate atrial fibrillation-related symptoms but can neither effectively prevent recurrent atrial fibrillation nor suppress atrial fibrillation-related complications. Hence, there is a need for better therapy of atrial fibrillation. The etiology of atrial fibrillation is complex. Most of the causes of atrial fibrillation which are known at present perpetuate themselves in vicious circles, and presence of the arrhythmia by itself causes marked damage of atrial myocardium. These pathophysiological insights suggest that early diagnosis and comprehensive therapy of atrial fibrillation, including adequate therapy of all atrial fibrillation-causing conditions, rate control, and rhythm control therapy, could help to prevent progression of atrial fibrillation and reduce atrial fibrillation-related complications. Such a therapy should make use of safe and effectiv...Continue Reading

References

Jun 17, 1999·The New England Journal of Medicine·H OralF Morady
Jul 27, 2001·Europace : European Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Electrophysiology : Journal of the Working Groups on Cardiac Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology·R N HauerUNKNOWN Study Group on Guidelines on ICD of the Working Group on Arrythmias and the Working Group on Cardiac Pacing of the European
Dec 6, 2002·The New England Journal of Medicine·D G WyseUNKNOWN Atrial Fibrillation Follow-up Investigation of Rhythm Management (AFFIRM) Investigators
Dec 6, 2002·The New England Journal of Medicine·Isabelle C Van GelderUNKNOWN Rate Control versus Electrical Cardioversion for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Study Group
Sep 12, 2003·The New England Journal of Medicine·Elaine M HylekDaniel E Singer
Aug 11, 2004·Chest·Grzegorz OpolskiUNKNOWN Investigators of the Polish How to Treat Chronic Atrial Fibrillation Study
Dec 3, 2004·The New England Journal of Medicine·Paolo AlboniGermano Gaggioli
May 6, 2005·European Heart Journal·Luca TestaFilippo Crea
Jun 7, 2005·Journal of the American College of Cardiology·Jeff S HealeyStuart J Connolly
Jan 24, 2006·Lancet·Stanley Nattel, Lionel H Opie
May 13, 2006·Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology : PACE·John D FisherEugen C Palma
Nov 15, 2006·European Heart Journal·Ole Dyg PedersenUNKNOWN DIAMOND study group investigators
Jun 9, 2007·Heart Rhythm : the Official Journal of the Heart Rhythm Society·Paulus Kirchhof, Günter Breithardt
Sep 28, 2007·European Heart Journal·Paulus KirchhofGünter Breithardt
Sep 28, 2007·Europace : European Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Electrophysiology : Journal of the Working Groups on Cardiac Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology·Paulus KirchhofGünter Breithardt
Dec 19, 2007·Europace : European Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Electrophysiology : Journal of the Working Groups on Cardiac Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology·Francisco G CosioHarry Crijns
Mar 12, 2008·Circulation·Denis RoyUNKNOWN Atrial Arrhythmia Conversion Trial Investigators
Jun 21, 2008·The New England Journal of Medicine·Denis RoyUNKNOWN Atrial Fibrillation and Congestive Heart Failure Investigators
Feb 14, 2009·The New England Journal of Medicine·Stefan H HohnloserUNKNOWN ATHENA Investigators
Apr 30, 2009·Europace : European Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Electrophysiology : Journal of the Working Groups on Cardiac Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology·UNKNOWN Task Force membersUNKNOWN EHRA Scientific Documents Committee
May 9, 2009·Journal of the American College of Cardiology·Riccardo CappatoAllan Skanes
May 16, 2009·Europace : European Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Electrophysiology : Journal of the Working Groups on Cardiac Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology·Etienne M AliotUNKNOWN Heart Rhythm Society
Jun 18, 2009·Europace : European Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Electrophysiology : Journal of the Working Groups on Cardiac Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology·Paulus KirchhofGünter Breithardt
Jul 7, 2009·Europace : European Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Electrophysiology : Journal of the Working Groups on Cardiac Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology·Michele Brignole
Aug 27, 2009·Europace : European Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Electrophysiology : Journal of the Working Groups on Cardiac Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology·Erik J Fransen
Sep 1, 2009·The New England Journal of Medicine·Stuart J ConnollyUNKNOWN RE-LY Steering Committee and Investigators
Oct 3, 2009·Europace : European Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Electrophysiology : Journal of the Working Groups on Cardiac Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology·Gerrit KaleschkePaulus Kirchhof

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 29, 2011·Europace : European Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Electrophysiology : Journal of the Working Groups on Cardiac Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology·Carina Blomstrom LundqvistPaulus Kirchhof
Jul 28, 2011·Europace : European Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Electrophysiology : Journal of the Working Groups on Cardiac Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology·Paulus KirchhofA John Camm
Jan 29, 2014·Europace : European Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Electrophysiology : Journal of the Working Groups on Cardiac Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology·Etienne AliotPaulus Kirchhof
Jul 9, 2016·European Heart Journal·Paulus Kirchhof, Hugh Calkins
Jul 9, 2016·Western Journal of Nursing Research·Pamela J McCabeHolli A DeVon
Sep 24, 2010·European Journal of Heart Failure·Paulus KirchhofKlaus Tiemann
Dec 14, 2011·Stroke; a Journal of Cerebral Circulation·Karl Georg HaeuslerMatthias Endres

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Atrial Filbrillation

Atrial fibrillation refers to the abnormal heart rhythm characterized by rapid and irregular beating of the atria. Here is the latest research.

Anti-Arrhythmic Drug Therapies

Anti-arrhythmic drugs are used to prevent abnormal heart rhythms. These medications are used in conditions including, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation and atrial fibrillation. Discover the latest research on anti-arrhythmic drug therapies here.

Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia that is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, particularly due to stroke and thromboembolism. Here is the latest research.

Arrhythmia

Arrhythmias are abnormalities in heart rhythms, which can be either too fast or too slow. They can result from abnormalities of the initiation of an impulse or impulse conduction or a combination of both. Here is the latest research on arrhythmias.

Antiarrhythmic Agents: Mechanisms of Action

Understanding the mechanism of action of antiarrhythmic agents is essential in developing new medications as treatment of cardiac arrhythmias is currently limited by the reduced availability of safe and effective drugs. Discover the latest research on Antiarrhythmic Agents: Mechanism of Action here.