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Atrial fibrillation

What is atrial fibrillation?

Causes

Detect

Protect

Assessing stroke risk

Assessing bleeding risk

Correct

Perfect

Assessment questions

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module menu icon Causes

There are many causes of AF, which can be sub-divided into cardiac and non-cardiac. 

  • Cardiac causes include ischaemic heart disease, hypertension, valvular heart disease, cardiac surgery and heart failure
  • Non-cardiac causes include sepsis, pneumonia/chest infection, hyperthyroidism and excess alcohol intake.

    • It is important to try to identify and treat the underlying cause of AF to be most effective. 

    AF can be further classified as the following:

  • Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: Episodes last from a few seconds to a few days. In between episodes the heart is in a normal (sinus) rhythm. Most episodes stop within 48 hours without treatment
  • Persistent atrial fibrillation: AF lasts longer than seven days even if treated with electrical cardioversion (shock treatment) or medication
  • Long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation: Continuous AF that lasts a year or longer
  • Permanent atrial fibrillation: AF is constantly present and attempts at conversion back to sinus rhythm are no longer undertaken. Treatment would aim to control the rate of AF.

    • When managing atrial fibrillation, the main aims are to detect, protect, correct and perfect.

    Atrial fibrillation

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