Blonder - Afib Flashcards
What is the most common cardiac arrythmia?
Afib
What is the major complication of afib?
Thromboemboli that can travel to the brain and cause stroke or into the lungs and cause a PE
What is the most common eitology of afib?
Genetics
Besides genetics, what are some eitologies of afib?
Hypertensive heart disease
Coronary heart disease
Rheumatic heart disease (mostly in underdeveloped countries)
Hyperthyroidism
What often precipitates afib?
Premature atrial contractions
What is the treatment for valvular afib?
Warfarin
What is paroxysmal afib?
Afib that terminates spontaneously or with intervention within 7 days of onset
May be recurrent
If recurrent, frequency of episodes is variable
What is persistent afib?
Afib that fails to self-terminate within 7 days
Termination often requires chemical or electrical conversion
Generally progressive
What is long-standing persistent afib?
Afib “episode” that has lasted more than 12 months
What is permanent afib?
Long-standing afib in which both pt and provider have decided to no longer pursue rhythm control
What is low risk afib?
Formerly “lone afib”
Accounts for up to 1/3 of pts with afib
Occurs in younger people, more male than female
Probably genetic
Familial in nature
Low risk of thromboembolus
What is subclinical afib?
Detection of afib in pts without prior diagnosis and who are currently asymptomatic
What role does mitral valve disease play in valvular afib?
Mitral valve stenosis will almost always result in afib
Mitral regurgitation is more common than mitral stenosis, and can sometimes result in afib
What role does alcohol play in afib?
Most likely mechanism is irritation of heart from aldehydes formed during alcohol metabolism
What are the components of the CHA2DS2-VASc score?
CHF
Hypertension
Age (>75 = 2 points)
Diabetes mellitus
Stroke, TIA, or thromboembolus (2 points)
Vascular disease (Hx MI, PAD, aortic plaque)
Age (65-74 = 1 point)
Sex category (Female = 1 point)
