Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common and complex cardiac arrhythmias. AF has been, is, and will continue to be an enormous health burden in communities, especially among the elderly population. The rates of cardiovascular events and mortality related to AF are increasing, leading to tremendous healthcare costs for AF patient care and management. Studies in the United States estimate up to 5.6 million cases of AF by 2050.1 In Europe, the number of AF cases is projected to double by 2060 compared to the current 9 million cases.2 Researchers, pharmaceutical and medical device companies are investing tremendous resources into studies of AF pathophysiology, treatment methods, prevention of AF recurrence, and approaches to reduce AF-related cardiovascular events. Major cardiology societies around the world like the European Society of Cardiology, the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association continuously dedicate great efforts to regularly update and develop guidelines for AF diagnosis and management. Within the scope of this article, we would like to select and discuss some new and important aspects in the diagnosis and treatment approaches for AF up until the end of 2023, as well as some interventional AF therapies that are gradually gaining popularity globally.
