risk

[atrialfib]

i was told that you are at as much stroke risk having PAF as having permanent AF,i understand having it the one could be the one time a clot happens,but surely having it all the time there must be more chance it makes sense anyone know?

[rosyG]

I am not medically qualified and had originally been thinking like you but when I spoke to the GP who chairs our CCG about this she said when patients with PAF revert to sinus rhythmn it can push a clot that has formed in the Left atrial appendage out into the bloodstream so that the view now is that PAF is just as dangerous for stroke- clots often stay in the appendage and just get absorbed by the body when in persistent AF

I think both need anti -coagulation unless there are reasons against!

[Varina8]

I have also read and heard from a cardiologist that the risk is as big with paroxysma AF as in continuous, if not bigger. Here I have seen that there are people with PAF lasting just a few seconds or minute and that only a couple of times a year. If these people have the same risk must be impossible to investigate and know.