Atrial fibrillation and stroke: the evolving role of rhythm control.

ABSTRACT:

Opinion statement

Atrial fibrillation (AF) remains a major risk factor for stroke. Unfortunately, clinical trials have failed to demonstrate that a strategy of rhythm control--therapy to maintain normal sinus rhythm (NSR)--reduces stroke risk. The apparent lack of benefit of rhythm control likely reflects the difficulty in maintaining NSR using currently available therapies. However, there are signals from several trials that the presence of NSR is indeed beneficial and associated with better outcomes related to stroke and mortality. Most electrophysiologists feel that as rhythm control strategies continue to improve, the crucial link between rhythm control and stroke reduction will finally be demonstrated. Therefore, AF specialists tend to be aggressive in their attempts to mainta

SUBMITTER: Patel TK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3651784 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature