Print Print
CKS is no longer commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE remains committed to providing a replacement service for CKS and is currently reviewing its options. In the meantime, although CKS content is now not being maintained, it still remains relevant and will continue to be made available. CKS content was generated under a programme of topic creation and update. To check if the topic you are viewing is current or out of date, please refer to the topic publication details by clicking on the 'How up-to-date is this topic?' link in the left hand menu on individual topic pages.

Atrial fibrillation
In the right clinical topic?

Age from 16 years onwards

This CKS topic is based on the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guideline Atrial fibrillation: national clinical guideline for management in primary and secondary care [National Collaborating Centre for Chronic Conditions, 2006].

This CKS topic covers the management of people with atrial fibrillation (AF), including people with paroxysmal AF, and covers management issues, such as rate control, antithrombotic treatment, and when to refer to a cardiologist.

This CKS topic does not cover the management of AF in children, AF causing haemodynamic instability, postoperative AF, or atrial flutter.

There are separate CKS topics on Anticoagulation - oral, Antiplatelet treatment, and Palpitations.

The target audience for this CKS topic is healthcare professionals working within the NHS in England, and providing first contact or primary health care. Patient information from NHS Choices is intended to be printed and given to people with this condition or their carers.

© NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement