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Atrial fibrillation - Management
Overview of management
- Confirm the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF) by performing electrocardiography.
- Determine the type of AF (paroxysmal, persistent, or permanent) based on the person's history or, if paroxysmal AF is suspected, by organizing 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography.
- Determine whether admission to hospital or referral to a cardiologist is required (such as for people with paroxysmal AF, or persistent AF where rhythm control is the preferred treatment).
- If referral is not required, assess the person's risk of stroke to determine appropriate antithrombotic treatment and consider starting rate control treatment.
- Regularly review people with established AF to measure their pulse rate and blood pressure, reassess their risk of stroke, and exclude complications of AF and drug treatment.
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