Pocket Guidelines on Atrial Fibrillation

Publication Date: 2024
Chairpersons: Isabelle van Gelder and Dipak Kotecha

Table of Contents

1. Introduction.

2. General approach: AF-CARE.

3. Definitions and classifications.

4. [C] Comorbidity and risk factor management.

5. [A] Avoid stroke and thromboembolism.

5.1. Who should be offered oral anticoagulants (OAC).

5.2. Which oral anticoagulant to use.

5.3. How to improve safety on anticoagulants.

5.4. How to manage a stroke despite anticoagulation.

5.5. Other approaches for thromboembolic protection.

6. [R] Rate and rhythm control.

6.1. Management of heart rate in patients with AF.

6.2. Rhythm control strategies in patients with AF.

6.3. Long-term antiarrhythmic drug therapy.

6.4. Catheter ablation.

6.5. Endoscopic and hybrid AF ablation.

6.6. AF ablation during cardiac surgery.

7. [E] Evaluation and dynamic reassessment.

8. The AF-CARE pathway in specific clinical settings.

8.1. AF-CARE in acute and chronic coronary syndromes.

8.2. AF-CARE in vascular disease.

8.3. AF-CARE in acute stroke or intracranial haemorrhage.

8.4. AF-CARE for trigger-induced AF.

8.5. AF-CARE in post-operative patients.

8.6. AF-CARE in embolic stroke of unknown source.

8.7. AF-CARE during pregnancy.

8.8. AF-CARE in congenital heart disease.

8.9. AF-CARE in atrial flutter.

9. Screening and prevention of AF.

9.1. Screening tools for AF.

9.2. Primary prevention of AF.