Pharmacologic management of atrial fibrillation in the elderly: Rate control, rhythm control, and anticoagulation

2003 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 380-386
Author(s):  
Seth McClennen ◽  
Peter J. Zimetbaum
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Rate Control ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Rhythm Control ◽  
Pharmacologic Management ◽  
Control Rhythm

scholarly journals Rate-control vs rhythm-control of atrial fibrillation in elderly patients. From new, age-oriented outcomes to a more complex management strategy

2018 ◽  
Vol 88 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Fumagalli ◽  
Serena Boni ◽  
Simone Pupo ◽  
Marta Migliorini ◽  
Irene Marozzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Control Strategy ◽  
Rate Control ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Rhythm Control ◽  
Aged Patients ◽  
Aged People ◽  
Arrhythmia Management

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent arrhythmia in elderly people. Findings derived from clinical trials seem to demonstrate that a rate-control strategy of AF in aged patients improves prognosis if compared to a rhythm-control one. However, epidemiological studies concordantly show that the arrhythmia is associated to increased hospitalization and mortality rates. In last years, the proportion of patients admitted to hospital for AF has progressively increased; this trend is observed in subjects >75 and >85 years, while no change was found in younger cohorts. Importantly, in aged individuals, probably because of the loss of atrial activity, the increase of heart rate and the irregularity of RR intervals, AF begins a vicious cycle, leading from heart failure, through the compromise of functional and neurocognitive status, to overt disability, dementia and increased mortality. Evidence specifically aimed at clarifying the effects of arrhythmia management on outcomes characteristic of aged people is completely lacking. In the elderly, the question regarding the effects of a rate- or a rhythm-control strategy of AF should be considered as an aspect of a more complex strategy, addressed to reduce disability and hospitalizations, and to improve quality of life and survival.

scholarly journals Rhythm-control vs rate-control in the elderly: When to do it and which drug to prefer?

2018 ◽  
Vol 88 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Luca Botto ◽  
Carlo Piemontese ◽  
Giovanni Russo
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Elderly Patient ◽  
Rate Control ◽  
Ischemic Cardiomyopathy ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
Antiarrhythmic Drugs ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Rhythm Control ◽  
Abnormal Rate

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a relevant cardiovascular condition that is more prevalent in the elderly patients aged over 65 years. AF, with abnormal rate and rhythm can cause symptoms directly or indirectly by exacerbating other frequently coexisting cardiac conditions such as valvular heart disease, hypertension, ischemic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Evidence suggests that aging-related cardiovascular changes predispose to the elderly to AF. Current therapeutic options such as antiarrhythmic drugs have not been extensively evaluated in the elderly population. Emerging pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options for the management of AF, such as dronedarone or catheter ablation, are of particular interest in the elderly. The present paper reviews the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and the management of AF in the elderly patient.

Rate Control vs. Rhythm Control for Atrial Fibrillation

2018 ◽  
pp. 50-54
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Rate Control ◽  
Older Patients ◽  
Cardiac Rhythm ◽  
Rhythm Control ◽  
Cardiovascular Risks ◽  
High Risk Patients ◽  
Risk Patients ◽  
Control Rhythm

This case focuses on how to maintain cardiac rhythm in older patients with arterial fibrillation and cardiovascular risks by asking the question: Should patients with atrial fibrillation be managed with a strategy of rate control or rhythm control? In high-risk patients with atrial fibrillation, a strategy of rate control is at least as effective as a strategy of rhythm control. Rhythm control does not appear to obviate the need for anticoagulation. Because the medications used for rate control are usually safer than those used for rhythm control, rate control is the preferred strategy for treating most high-risk patients with atrial fibrillation. These findings do not necessarily apply to younger patients without cardiovascular risk factors who were not included in AFFIRM, however.

scholarly journals Current Evidence and Recommendations for Rate Control in Atrial Fibrillation

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abhishek Maan ◽  
Moussa Mansour ◽  
Jeremy N Ruskin ◽  
E Kevin Heist ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Catheter Ablation ◽  
Rate Control ◽  
Treatment Strategy ◽  
Antiarrhythmic Drugs ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Rhythm Control ◽  
Ventricular Rate ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Substantial Risk

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice, which is associated with substantial risk of stroke and thromboembolism. As an arrhythmia that is particularly common in the elderly, it is an important contributor towards morbidity and mortality. Ventricular rate control has been a preferred and therapeutically convenient treatment strategy for the management of AF. Recent research in the field of rhythm control has led to the advent of newer antiarrhythmic drugs and catheter ablation techniques as newer therapeutic options. Currently available antiarrhythmic drugs still remain limited by their suboptimal efficacy and significant adverse effects. Catheter ablation as a newer modality to achieve sinus rhythm (SR) continues to evolve, but data on long-term outcomes on its efficacy and mortality outcomes are not yet available. Despite these current developments, rate control continues to be the front-line treatment strategy, especially in older and minimally symptomatic patients who might not tolerate the antiarrhythmic drug treatment. This review article discusses the current evidence and recommendations for ventricular rate control in the management of AF. We also highlight the considerations for rhythm control strategy in the management of patients of AF.

scholarly journals Comparative Effectiveness of Early Rhythm Control Versus Rate Control for Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daehoon Kim ◽  
Pil‐Sung Yang ◽  
Seng Chan You ◽  
Eunsun Jang ◽  
Hee Tae Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Heart Failure ◽  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Rate Control ◽  
Cardiovascular Death ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Cardiovascular Outcomes ◽  
Rhythm Control ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Control Rhythm

Background Rhythm control is associated with better cardiovascular outcomes than usual care among patients with recently diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF). This study investigated the effects of rhythm control compared with rate control on the incidence of stroke, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular death stratified by timing of treatment initiation. Methods and Results We conducted a retrospective population‐based cohort study including 22 635 patients with AF newly treated with rhythm control (antiarrhythmic drugs or ablation) or rate control in 2011 to 2015 from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Propensity overlap weighting was used. Compared with rate control, rhythm control initiated within 1 year of AF diagnosis decreased the risk of stroke. The point estimates for rhythm control initiated at selected time points after AF diagnosis are as follows: 6 months (hazard ratio [HR], 0.76; 95% CI, 0.66–0.87), 1 year (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.66–0.93), and 5 years (HR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.45–2.24). The initiation of rhythm control within 6 months of AF diagnosis reduced the risk of hospitalization for heart failure: 6 months (HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.74–0.95), 1 year (HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.82–1.13), and 5 years (HR, 2.88; 95% CI, 1.34–6.17). The risks of myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death did not differ between rhythm and rate control regardless of treatment timing. Conclusions Early initiation of rhythm control was associated with a lower risk of stroke and heart failure–related admission than rate control in patients with recently diagnosed AF. The effects were attenuated as initiating the rhythm control treatment later.

scholarly journals Rate and rhythm control treatment in the elderly and very elderly patients with atrial fibrillation: an observational cohort study of 1,497 patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
T.A Klamer ◽  
S.H Bots ◽  
J Neefs ◽  
I.I Tulevski ◽  
G.A Somsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Control Strategy ◽  
Rate Control ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Rhythm Control ◽  
Prescribing Patterns ◽  
Very Elderly ◽  
Electronic Health Record Data ◽  
To Receive

Abstract Aim Stroke prevention and rate or rhythm control are crucial parts of the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). There is limited evidence for the efficacy or safety of rate and rhythm control in elderly or very elderly patients, although this population is rapidly increasing. Therefore, we analyzed electronic health record data from outpatient cardiology clinics to give insight in prescribing patterns and mortality of both treatment strategies in the elderly patients. Methods and results We extracted data from all patients with AF who were aged >75 years, used a pharmacological rate or rhythm control strategy and visited one of the independent outpatient cardiology clinics in the Netherlands between 2007 and February 2018. This resulted in 1,497 selected patients (54% women), of whom 316 (21%) were prescribed rhythm control (consisting of class 1 or 3 antiarrhythmic drugs) and 1,181 (79%) rate control (beta blockers, calcium antagonists or digoxin). Patients aged >85 years (OR: 2.28) and those with permanent AF (OR: 2.71) were more likely to receive rate control (OR: 2.28, OR: 2.71 respectively), whereas those with paroxysmal AF were more likely to receive rhythm control (OR: 0.42). After correcting for relevant confounders, the mortality risk for patients using rhythm control was similar to patients using rate control (HR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.70; p=0.31). Conclusion Considering the similar mortality risks in both groups, a more liberal approach in prescribing a rhythm control strategy to the healthier elderly patient with AF seems safe. Our data underscores the need for a non-inferiority trial to provide definite answers on safety of rhythm control in elderly patients with AF. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Optimizing Heart Rate and Controlling Symptoms in Atrial Fibrillation

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Pragnesh Parikh ◽  
◽  
KL Venkatachalam ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Rate Control ◽  
Stroke Risk ◽  
Symptom Control ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Rhythm Control ◽  
Ventricular Rate ◽  
Control Methods ◽  
Novel Approaches

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia noted in clinical practice and its incidence and prevalence are on the rise. The single most important intervention is the evaluation and treatment of stroke risk. Once the risk for stroke has been minimized, controlling the ventricular rate and treating symptoms become relevant. In this review article, we emphasize the importance of confirming and treating the appropriate arrhythmia and correlating symptoms with rhythm changes. Furthermore, we evaluate some of the risk factors for AF that independently result in symptoms, underlining the need to treat these risk factors as part of symptom control. We then discuss existing and novel approaches to rate control in AF and briefly cover rhythm control methods.

scholarly journals Rhythm and rate control of atrial fibrillation in the emergency department – A large community-based observational study

CJEM ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 834-840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron J. Gilbert ◽  
Paul Angaran ◽  
Zana Mariano ◽  
Theresa Aves ◽  
Paul Dorian
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Rate Control ◽  
Primary Diagnosis ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Rhythm Control ◽  
Chads2 Score ◽  
Control Factors ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Canadian City

AbstractObjectiveAtrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia presentation to the emergency department (ED) and frequently results in admission to the hospital. Although rarely life-threatening and not usually an emergent condition, AF places a large burden on our health-care system. The objective of this study was to describe the practices of ED physicians in the management of AF in a large urban Canadian city.MethodsFrom January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010, patients with a primary diagnosis of AF were identified across 10 EDs in Toronto, Canada (N=2,609). Fifty patients were selected at random from each hospital for a detailed chart review (n=500).ResultsTwo hundred thirty-two patients (46%) received rate control, and 129 (26%) received rhythm control with the remainder (28%) receiving neither therapy. Sixty-seven percent of patients were discharged home. Most patients (79%) were symptomatic on arrival; however, only a minority of these (31%) received rhythm control. Factors that were associated with rhythm control included younger age, duration of palpitations ≤ 48 hours, a lower CHADS2 score, and the absence of left ventricular dysfunction.ConclusionOur data suggest a wide range of practice amongst ED physicians treating patients presenting to the ED with a primary diagnosis of AF. A randomized trial is needed to better understand the optimal management strategy in this patient population and setting.

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