Atrial Fibrillation

An Update for Home Healthcare Clinicians

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation is a common cardiac arrhythmia in which the atria of the heart do not beat synchronously with the ventricles. It affects 2.7 to 6.1 million people in the United States. The erratic beating of the atria can cause blood clots to form in the atria, and if released into the circulation, an embolism can travel to the brain, causing a stroke. The primary goals of care for the management of atrial fibrillation are stroke-risk reduction, control of heart rate, rhythm management, and prevention of cardiac-related morbidity and mortality. This article reviews the guideline for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation by the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines and provides recommendations for home healthcare clinicians.