Keywords

arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, dysrhythmias, heart failure, thromboembolism

 

Authors

  1. Offutt, Carol MSN, RN, CRNP

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common chronic arrhythmia. Incidence of AF in the heart failure population is high-10% to 30%-and is associated with a reduction in exercise capacity and a poor long-term prognosis. Management of AF includes 4 strategies: control of heart rate, termination of AF/conversion back to sinus rhythm, prevention of recurrences, and prevention of thromboembolic events. This article reviews these management strategies in the heart failure population.