Doctors & patients are saying about 'A-Fib.com'...
"A-Fib.com is a great web site for patients, that is unequaled by anything else out there."
Dr. Douglas L. Packer, MD, FHRS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
"Jill and I put you and your work in our prayers every night. What you do to help people through this [A-Fib] process is really incredible."
Jill and Steve Douglas, East Troy, WI
“I really appreciate all the information on your website as it allows me to be a better informed patient and to know what questions to ask my EP.
Faye Spencer, Boise, ID, April 2017
“I think your site has helped a lot of patients.”Dr. Hugh G. Calkins, MD Johns Hopkins,
Baltimore, MD
Your Doctor’s “2023 Guideline for the Diagnosis & Management of Atrial Fibrillation”
Important for all A-Fib patients: The newly issued 2023 Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Atrial Fibrillation. The guideline includes new evidence to guide your cardiologist and electrophysiologist in the treatment of your Atrial Fibrillation. It was last updated in 2014 and supplemented in 2019.
Cardiologists, electrophysiologists, surgeons, pharmacists, patient representatives and other stakeholders all collaborated on the updated recommendations.
First issued in 1980, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) develop and publish these guidelines without commercial support, and members volunteer their time to the writing and review efforts.
ACC/AHA develop and publish these guidelines without commercial support, and members volunteer to write and review them.
ACC/AHA/ACCP/HRS: The 2023 Guideline is endorsed by four medical organizations: American College of Cardiology (ACC), American Heart Association (AHA), American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), and Heart Rhythm Society (HRS).
A Few of the Important Updates for Patients: I am still reading/studying this document—it’s 171 pages long. Here are a few updates that reflect important shifts in the treatment of A-Fib patients:
• Stages of atrial fibrillation: recognizes A-Fib as a disease continuum that requires a variety of strategies at the different stages;
• A-Fib risk factor: recognizes lifestyle and risk factor modification as a pillar of A-Fib management to prevent onset and progression;
• Catheter ablation of A-Fib: can be first-line therapy; Recognizes the superiority of catheter ablation over drug therapy for rhythm control;
• Left atrial appendage occlusion devices: recognized for safety and efficacy.
Steve Ryan at the 2023 AF Symposium
If you read A-Fib.com regularly, you know these topics have filled my posts for years. I write about these topics after reading the newest research, evidence and findings, querying the experts and learn the latest innovations at the annual AF Symposiums from presentations by leading electrophysiologists, cardiologists, scientists and researchers (read my 2023 AF Symposium posts).
I’ll write more about these changes.
You Can Read it Yourself. It’s available on the websites of the American College of Cardiology (JACC.org) and the American Heart Association (ahajournal.org).
Newly released: 2023 ACC/AHA/ACCP/HRS Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Atrial Fibrillation: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines; Issued by American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines; See www.jacc.org or www.aha.org.
