Abstract
Atrial fibrillation is a common cardiac arrhythmia found in the elderly. The cornerstones of therapy are prevention of thromboembolism with anticoagulation therapy, control of ventricular rate, and restoration of sinus rhythm when feasible. The use of warfarin therapy has been shown to be effective in reducing strokes, but management can be difficult, and the development of new oral anticoagulant medications is an area of ongoing research. In addition, new strategies to promote the maintenance of sinus rhythm, including new pharmacotherapy as well as catheter-based and surgical procedures, are becoming more widespread. Data regarding the use of more invasive modalities in elderly patients are accumulating. In this article, we will give a brief overview of current management options of atrial fibrillation, and will focus specifically on new data pertaining to the role of these strategies in elderly patients.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 354-360 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Current Cardiovascular Risk Reports |
Volume | 4 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2010 |
Keywords
- Anticoagulation
- Atrial fibrillation
- Elderly
- Rate control
- Rhythm control
- Stroke