Insights from the RCPE UK Consensus Conference on approaching the comprehensive management of atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Consensus Conference on approaching the comprehensive management of atrial fibrillation

Edinburgh, UK, 1–2 March 2012

This article provides some insights from the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh UK Consensus Conference on approaching the comprehensive management of atrial fibrillation. The four key questions addressed by the conference were: how can we best detect atrial fibrillation (AF)? Should the treatment of AF be targeted towards control of rhythm, rate or both? What is the most effective and safest delivery of thromboprophylaxis in AF? And what are the differences between physician and patient expectations with regard to the management of AF? The key recommendations from the consensus conference were that detection of AF must be improved; a national screening programme should be introduced; uptake of oral anticoagulants must be increased and methods of engaging patients in their AF management should be improved; aspirin should not be used for stroke prevention in AF; and in relation to rate and rhythm control for AF, relief of symptoms should be the goal of treatment. The Consensus Statement and its background papers are recommended reading for the development of local guidelines for management, and for the management of individual patients.

Keywords::

• anticoagulation therapy
• aspirin
• atrial fibrillation
• comprehensive management
• consensus conference
• screening
• stroke prevention

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank G McAlister from the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, as well as the College, for providing permission to quote from the consensus document.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

GYH Lip was chair of the organizing committee for this consensus conference. GYH Lip has served as a consultant for Bayer, Astellas, Merck, Sanofi, BMS/Pfizer, Daiichi-Sankyo, Biotronik, Portola and Boehringer Ingelheim, and has been on the speakers bureau for Bayer, BMS/Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim and Sanofi Aventis. SG Ramsay was the clinical lead for the consensus conferences for the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.