Search

Background: Many atrial fibrillation (AF) patients have a poor understanding of the management of this condition. We investigated patient attitudes towards AF and a potential invasive treatment following an average 10-year period of prospective rhythm control in a cohort of newly diagnosed AF patients. Methods: This was a prospective registry-based study. At the regular annual visit in 2007, patients were asked at random to answer several AF-related questions. Results: Of 390 patients, 277 (71.0%) reported symptom reduction over time, but only 45 (11.5%) reported that they had "got used" to AF; 201 patients (51.5%) stated they would always prefer sinus rhythm, and 280 (71.2%) would accept an invasive AF treatment. Independent predictors for choosing an invasive procedure were younger age, impaired career/working capacity, and male gender (all P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that most AF patients prefer sinus rhythm and would readily accept an invasive procedure if it offered the possibility of a cure for their AF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that tested the predictive ability of three stratification schemes including van Walraven risk stratification schemes in a cohort of lone atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. The study focused on 345 patients initially diagnosed with lone AF between 1992 and 2007. The schema identified the lone AF patients who were at truly low risk for thromboembolism.

The article presents a study that investigated long-term outcomes in a large cohort of newly diagnosed lone atrial fibrillation (AF). The study explored the impact of progression from paroxysmal to permanent AF on outcomes, including stroke and thromboembolism. It reveals baseline paroxysmal AF in 242 patients.