After atrial fibrillation (AF) develops, the first step is to search for and treat underlying (heart) s. Thereafter, AF should be treated. This includes prevention of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, especially vascular events, and reduction of symptoms.
1 The latter may be obtained by two treatment strategies: rhythm-control and/or rate-control treatment. Recent randomised trials have shown that rate control is not inferior to rhythm control with regard to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
2 In these studies, predominantly elderly patients with underlying heart s (especially hypertension) were included. Patients with (severely) symptomatic AF and advanced heart failure were excluded. Since then, rate-control treatment has been adopted more frequently, even as first-choice therapy, especially in the elderly. …
