Atrial Fibrillation and Anticoagulation Resource Center


		• Management of newly detected atrial fibrillation: a clinical practice guideline from the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Physicians. • Antithrombotic therapy for coronary artery disease: the Seventh ACCP Conference on Antithrombotic and Thrombolytic Therapy. • ACC/AHA/ESC guidelines for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation.


		• Atrial Fibrillation • Atrial Flutter • View All Atrial Fibrillation and Anticoagulation Articles


		• Atrial fibrillation ECG • ECG of controlled-rate atrial fibrillation • Type I atrial flutter unmasked by adenosine • View All Atrial Fibrillation and Anticoagulation Multimedia Files


		• AF Advisor • AF Foundation • Atrial Fibrillation • Atrial Flutter • National Stroke Association • Palpitations • Stroke


		• Bleeding probability after TPA for MI • Cardiac arrest: likelihood of mortality and neurologic recovery • Cardiac Output • Myocardial infarction probability • NIH Stroke Scale


	ATRIAL FIBRILLATON & ANTICOAGULATION RESOURCE CENTER
	Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia and a significant public health problem in the United States, affecting 2.2 million Americans and almost 5% of the population older than 69 years. Prevalence of AF increases with advancing age. While patients may be asymptomatic, many experience a wide variety of clinical manifestations, including systemic embolism and/or stroke. AF is associated with a 1.5- to 1.9-fold higher risk of death, which may be attributable to thromboembolic stroke. Both classic anticoagulants (eg, coumadin) and newer anticoagulants can decrease the incidence of such strokes; therefore, it has become increasingly important to diagnose and treat AF to prevent these serious and potentially life-threatening thromboembolic complications.


		Atrial Fibrillation (Cardiology) Background, pathophysiology, and epidemiology of atrial fibrillation Evaluation and diagnosis of atrial fibrillation Differential diagnosis of atrial fibrillation Diagnostic studies in atrial fibrillation Treatment plan for atrial fibrillation Medications for atrial fibrillation Prognosis and follow-up considerations

		Atrial Fibrillation Get 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM by completing this peer-reviewed online course from eMedicine's Clinical Knowledge Base. Learn the latest point-of-care management of this common and potentially life-threatening cardiac condition in this comprehensive review course.




	RACE Clinical Trial
	A Comparison of Rate Control and Rhythm Control in Patients With Recurrent Persistent Atrial Fibrillation (RACE) trial was a prospective, multicenter, randomized, Dutch trial that looked at long-term results of either medication-induced rate control versus rhythm control using electrical cardioversion without antiarrhythmic drugs for patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. The primary endpoints of the study were death from cardiovascular causes, heart failure, thromboembolic complications, bleeding, need for a pacemaker, or severe drug adverse effects. Results showed that at last followup nearly 40% of the rhythm control group was in sinus rhythm, while 10% of the rate control group was in sinus rhythm. In addition, the primary endpoint occurred significantly more frequently in women of the rhythm control group among women and in hypertensive patients.
	Atrial Fibrillation Follow-up Investigation of Rhythm Management (AFFIRM)
	This study was sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The AFFIRM study compared two standard treatment strategies for atrial fibrillation: ventricular rate control and anticoagulation versus rhythm control and anticoagulation.


	Artang R, Vidaillet H. Alternatives to warfarin for thromboembolism prophylaxis in nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation. J Interv Card Electrophysiol. 2004;10 Suppl 1:33-44.
	Cooper HA. Trials of newer approaches to anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation. J Interv Card Electrophysiol. 2004;10 Suppl 1:27-31.
	Willems R, Exner DV. Do population studies confirm the benefit of oral anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation demonstrated in clinical trials? J Interv Card Electrophysiol. 2004;10 Suppl 1:9-16.
	Janes S, Challis R, Fisher F. Safe introduction of warfarin for thrombotic prophylaxis in atrial fibrillation requiring only a weekly INR. Clin Lab Haematol. 2004 Feb;26(1):43-7.

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ATRIAL FIBRILLATON & ANTICOAGULATION RESOURCE CENTER