- Section 1 Ageing population and policy
- Section 2 Key concepts in care of older adults
- Section 3 Principles and organization of care
- Section 4 Age-related biological changes, altered physiology, and vulnerability to diseases and chronic conditions
- Section 5 Geriatric syndromes in clinical practice
- Section 6 Nutrition and metabolism
- Section 7 Mobility disorders: prevention, impact, and compensation
- Section 8 Infections in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 9 Cancer: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 10 Vascular diseases: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Chapter 95 Cardiac and vascular ageing
- Chapter 96 Dyslipidemias and other cardiometabolic risk factors in older adults
- Chapter 97 Physical factors in arterial ageing
- Chapter 98 Peripheral vascular disease in older adults: diagnostic and treatment considerations
- Chapter 99 Aneurysmal diseases
- Chapter 100 Pulmonary thromboembolism
- Chapter 101 Hypertension in older adults
- Chapter 102 Syncope and neurocardiovascular instability
- Chapter 103 Management of atrial fibrillation and anticoagulant therapies
- Chapter 104 Management of bradyarrhythmias
- Chapter 105 Management of tachyarrhythmias
- Chapter 106 Ischaemic heart disease
- Chapter 107 Valvular heart disease: state of the art and treatment perspectives
- Chapter 108 Heart failure: definitions, investigation, and management
- Chapter 109 Cardiac rehabilitation
- Chapter 110 Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: outcomes and decision-making processes for older adults
- Section 11 Neurological disorders: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 12 Cognitive decline and dementia in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 13 Mental health of older adults
- Section 14 Management of common medical conditions: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 15 Palliative medicine and end-of-life care
- Section 16 Healthy ageing
(p. 793) Management of atrial fibrillation and anticoagulant therapies
- Chapter:
- (p. 793) Management of atrial fibrillation and anticoagulant therapies
- Author(s):
Mark O’Neill
, John Whitaker
, Jonathan Birns
, and Matthew Wright
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780198701590.003.0103
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common supraventricular arrhythmia which is commonly found in older adults. It is associated with an increased risk of stroke and has a detrimental effect on quality of life. Management of AF involves an attempt to reduce the increased risk of stroke and to treat the symptoms that result from a high (or low) ventricular rate as well as, in some cases, the atrial rhythm itself. The management of AF involves a comprehensive assessment of a patient’s individual stroke and bleeding risk and a careful documentation of the impact of their symptoms on quality of life. Treatment options range from conservative to highly invasive. Selecting the appropriate combination from the range of options necessitates an understanding of the risks and benefits of each, so that the patient and physician can jointly identify the most appropriate management strategy.
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- Section 1 Ageing population and policy
- Section 2 Key concepts in care of older adults
- Section 3 Principles and organization of care
- Section 4 Age-related biological changes, altered physiology, and vulnerability to diseases and chronic conditions
- Section 5 Geriatric syndromes in clinical practice
- Section 6 Nutrition and metabolism
- Section 7 Mobility disorders: prevention, impact, and compensation
- Section 8 Infections in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 9 Cancer: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 10 Vascular diseases: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Chapter 95 Cardiac and vascular ageing
- Chapter 96 Dyslipidemias and other cardiometabolic risk factors in older adults
- Chapter 97 Physical factors in arterial ageing
- Chapter 98 Peripheral vascular disease in older adults: diagnostic and treatment considerations
- Chapter 99 Aneurysmal diseases
- Chapter 100 Pulmonary thromboembolism
- Chapter 101 Hypertension in older adults
- Chapter 102 Syncope and neurocardiovascular instability
- Chapter 103 Management of atrial fibrillation and anticoagulant therapies
- Chapter 104 Management of bradyarrhythmias
- Chapter 105 Management of tachyarrhythmias
- Chapter 106 Ischaemic heart disease
- Chapter 107 Valvular heart disease: state of the art and treatment perspectives
- Chapter 108 Heart failure: definitions, investigation, and management
- Chapter 109 Cardiac rehabilitation
- Chapter 110 Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: outcomes and decision-making processes for older adults
- Section 11 Neurological disorders: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 12 Cognitive decline and dementia in older adults: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 13 Mental health of older adults
- Section 14 Management of common medical conditions: epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management
- Section 15 Palliative medicine and end-of-life care
- Section 16 Healthy ageing