Outlook

The most dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation is stroke.

• Someone with atrial fibrillation is about 3-5 times more likely to have a stroke than someone who does not have atrial fibrillation.
  
  
• The risk of stroke from atrial fibrillation for people aged 50-59 years is about 1.5%. For those aged 80-89 years, the risk is about 30%.
  
  
• Warfarin (Coumadin), when taken in appropriate doses, and monitored carefully, reduces this risk of stroke by over two thirds.
  
  
• It is important to know that clinical trial data has shown that you can live just as long with atrial fibrillation with a controlled heart rate, for example, with medications, plus Coumadin as in normal sinus rhythm (AFFIRM trial).

Another complication of atrial fibrillation is heart failure.

• In heart failure, the heart no longer contracts and pumps as strongly as it should.
  
  
• The very rapid contraction of the ventricles in atrial fibrillation can gradually weaken the muscle walls of the ventricles.
  
  
• This is uncommon, however, because most people seek treatment for atrial fibrillation before the heart begins to fail.

For most people with atrial fibrillation, relatively simple treatment dramatically lowers the risk of serious outcome. People with infrequent and brief episodes of atrial fibrillation may need no further treatment than learning to avoid the triggers of their episodes, such as caffeine, alcohol, or overeating.

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Atrial Fibrillation - Effective Treatments

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