Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a very frequent
1,2 and complex disease often associated with other medical conditions. Not only the arrhythmia itself but also the underlying medical conditions determine the patient’s long-term prognosis.
3 Physicians’ focus on the arrhythmia frequently distracts their attention from the true problems AF patients face, leading to lack of anticoagulation and heart failure treatment, and futile instalment of rhythm control in asymptomatic patients.
4,5 The Euro Heart Survey (EHS) on AF showed that adherence to guidelines may reduce morbidity and mortality in AF patients
6 and may also reduce costs.
7,8 …