Atrial fibrillation articles from across Nature Portfolio

Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained arrhythmia and imposes a substantial burden on patients and health-care providers. Clinical evidence suggests that antiarrhythmic therapy to restore and maintain sinus rhythm (rhythm control) can reduce adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with new-onset atrial fibrillation. As a result, a paradigm shift towards rhythm control over rate control therapy is emerging, increasing the clinical need for effective and safe antiarrhythmic drugs.

The risk of stroke in patients with atrial high-rate episodes (AHREs) depends on age, comorbidities and AHRE burden. Two randomized clinical trials on the use of oral anticoagulant therapy for stroke prevention in older patients with short and rare AHREs have reported conflicting findings on the efficacy of oral anticoagulation in this patient population, although both trials report a significantly increased risk of major bleeding with oral anticoagulation.

Continuous cardiac rhythm monitoring via cardiac implantable electronic devices finds an increased number of patients with asymptomatic atrial fibrillation. Yet, not all patients with device-detected atrial high-rate episodes are alike. Fine-tuning risk assessment may help identify those who can benefit most from anticoagulation.

According to data from the COP-AF trial, anti-inflammatory therapy with colchicine does not reduce the risk of perioperative atrial fibrillation or myocardial injury in patients undergoing major non-cardiac thoracic surgery.

A study shows that macrophages undergo substantial expansion in the diseased atria of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), and identifies two potential immunotherapy targets for the treatment of AF.