CJC publishes updated atrial fibrillation guidelines

The Canadian Journal of Cardiology has published a focused update to the Canadian Cardiovascular Society's atrial fibrillation guidelines.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and is a significant cause of stroke, illness in general, and death. It is, for example, the leading cause of stroke in the elderly. The past year has seen important changes in the drugs available to treat atrial fibrillation and in our understanding of their indications and complications. These changes will strongly affect how doctors treat this important condition. The Canadian Cardiovascular Society has accordingly updated its guidelines for drugs to prevent strokes and to control the heart rhythm, providing important new guidance to practicing doctors as to how to treat the condition, prevent potentially serious negative consequences, and avoid complications of therapy.

"These Canadian Cardiovascular Society guidelines provide the first detailed analysis of how the mass of recently obtained important information should be applied to change the ways that doctors handle this challenging clinical problem. They will have a significant impact on how the condition is treated worldwide," comments Stanley Nattel, MD, Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Journal of Cardiology.