How to optimize rate control in clinical atrial fibrillation management

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia seen in clinical practice, and accounts for most arrhythmia-related emergency room visits and hospital admissions. The present-day management of AF is centred on improving arrhythmia-related symptoms, exercise tolerance, and quality of life, and reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with AF (ie, the prevention of stroke or systemic thromboembolism and tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy). The contemporary management of AF is centred on the apparently competing strategies of rate and rhythm control, which are more appropriately viewed as complementary. This contemporary review will discuss the rationale underpinning the rate control strategy, and focus on practical aspects of undertaking a rate control strategy.