Treatment: Special Conditions: Co-existing Heart Disease: Atrial Fibrillation

AF is the most common sustained rhythm disorder of the heart affecting approximately 6 million Americans. 1 AF occurs in 0.4% of the general population, 4% of the hospital population, and in 40% of patients with congestive heart failure (HF)2-5. A variety of clinical conditions predispose to the development of AF, the commonest being hypertension (see section ii below). AF is a major cause of serious morbidity such as cerebrovascular embolism (‘stroke’), causing a 5 fold increase in the risk of stroke (including over 10% of all strokes in the elderly).

Source: Journal of the American Society of Hypertension - February 10, 2015 Category: Cardiology Authors: Rishi Arora, Clyde W. Yancy Source Type: research