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Atrial fibrillation - Management
How should I decide whether rate or rhythm control is needed?
- Rate control can be started in primary care, but rhythm control should only be started following specialist assessment.
- Rate control is the preferred treatment for permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) and in people with persistent AF and any of the following:
- More than 65 years of age.
- With coronary artery disease.
- With contraindications to antiarrhythmic drugs.
- Unsuitable for cardioversion.
- Rhythm control is the preferred treatment for paroxysmal AF and in people with persistent AF and any of the following:
- Symptomatic.
- 65 years of age or less.
- Presenting for the first time with lone AF.
- Presenting with AF secondary to a treated or corrected precipitant (such as infection).
- With congestive heart failure.
- If there is uncertainty about which option is best (for example the person may be older than 65 years of age with lone AF), seek specialist advice.
In depth
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