[Atrial fibrillation: from detection to treatment. Role of the family physician, cardiologist and other specialists. New models of clinical management].

[Atrial fibrillation: from detection to treatment. Role of the family physician, cardiologist and other specialists. New models of clinical management]. Aten Primaria. 2013 Apr;45 Suppl 1:18-29 Authors: Sánchez SD, Lobos Bejarano JM, Gonzalez-Juanatey JR Abstract The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in adults in Spain is estimated to be 4.4% of the population aged 40 years or more, corresponding to a mean of 30 to 40 patients per family physician. The importance of this common arrhythmia lies, above all, in its close association with stroke and other systemic embolisms, among other possible complications. Diagnosis of AF is based on electrocardiographic recording and can consequently be made by the family physician, who should make an overall assessment of the patient's health, including risk factors, comorbidity and type of AF and evaluate embolic and hemorrhagic risk. The decision to prescribe anticoagulation therapy or not should be taken promptly and should be based on the patient's embolic risk and not on the type of arrhythmia. In addition, the family physician, together with the treating cardiologist, should decide on the most appropriate therapeutic strategy for each individual patient: a rhythm control strategy (attempting to recover and maintain sinus rhythm) or a rate control strategy (maintaining heart rate within acceptable limits). Antithrombotic treatment should form part of both strategies, since stroke is the most serio...
Source: Atencion Primaria - Category: Primary Care Authors: Tags: Aten Primaria Source Type: research