2016 ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with EACTS

[Delle]

eurheartj.oxfordjournals.or...

Good afternoon everyone,

Discovered the above info today, not sure if it's been shared...so sharing!

Delle

[BobD Volunteer]

Looks like something for one of those insomniac nights! lol I'll wait for the film I think.

[Delle in reply to BobD]

Ha ha...wish I'd not read it....scared me!!! :/

[Finvola]

Absolutely everything we have been discussing on this forum put together in one paper. Well done for finding it in the first place and thank you for the link. A lot of reading - or, for me, dipping and diving now and again.

[Delle]

It's a huge read, parts of which I found frightening because I have Valvular Heart disease along with my A Fib...it appears to be not the best thing to have with A Fib...and since I only discovered my "condition" in June when it almost "took me away", I still find it all very scary....! :/

Hope it helps everyone who reads it and not scares them too much...I suspect I'm the only wuss here anyway!!

[cat55 in reply to Delle]

I am a wuss too so haven't read it yet. I

[kenlynkirk in reply to Delle]

me tooI I have mvp and pat my whole life and suffer from panic attacks

[ultramarine]

It was very informative, have read half of it, and will copy some extracts to take to my EP in December..He is very happy to include me in any discussion/decisions now, after checking my ecg on my phone before the surgery. The only problem I can see is in Australia their could be different guidelines.

Didn't know there was going to be a film! All good exposure to help with future research.

[Hidden]

Oooer, quite a read, and I spend happy hours copyediting medical papers! It is a bit scary isn't it... But good to be informed, for sure. Thank you for the link.

[Delle in reply to Hidden]

It IS scary, so happy to see someone else feel this way...not used to being this poorly and I'm totally terrified most of the time....can't believe how much my life has changed since this "hit" me in June....gone from a strong woman who did everything to a housebound, useless old lady x

[Hidden in reply to Delle]

You're not useless, honestly... I'm not... None of us are... We've all got a condition, but papers like this, which are by doctors for doctors, don't sugar-coat and they're looking at worst-case scenarios. I think it's important to live without thinking about the direst possibilities, because they may never happen and if they do we won't know much about it... You learn to live with it and yes, sometimes the information is scary, but you go on. I have decided that I refuse to stop enjoying my life because my darn heart has hiccups

[Didgery in reply to Delle]

Hi Delle, just found this site. I am an 83 year old and was diagnosed last July. Like you I have gone from a strong woman to a housebound useless old lady. Too much to hope that you are better but hoping that daily living is not too terrifying. My first thought each morning is h..l another day to get through. Thanks for your post it helped knowing I was not alone.

[portmoodyggma in reply to Delle]

I just read your post - I'm in the same position now. As it is a year later, how are you doing?

[Hidden]

Many thanks, Delle. Started reading and was shocked to come across a statement which says that, among other things, AF is one of the major causes of sudden death! I'm assuming that means it can cause a stroke, but I must say, I've never really been convinced when I'm reassured that you don't die of AF. It sure is the foundation of more direct causes of death! Still, that's a powerful reason to do everything that might help reduce the chances.

Pat.

PS Total sympathy with your description of turning into a 'useless old lady'. Funnily enough, you certainly don't seem 'useless' to me, being thoughtful enough to reach out to help the rest of us. x

[Delle in reply to Hidden]

Thank you PatAF x

[ILowe]

Without looking at it, can anyone tell us what the changes are since the previous guidelines were issued? The changes are what interest us. We may agree, or disagree with them. What is likely that most specialists will NOT have read it, and will be working to previous guidelines if at all. The cynic in me says if changes support your viewpoint, you can then use them next time you see an expert, otherwise, probably best to keep quiet.

[Buffafly in reply to ILowe]

Especially as the first word is European not British.........or American.......or Australian........yes, be tactful 😇

[ILowe in reply to Buffafly]

I heartily wish these documents would follow normal practice when books go into another edition: a good author indicates somewhere what is new, and what has changed etc. Similarly, a revised syllabus for exams in Britain used to have marked, the new/changed points. So, we are down to finding our favourite quotes. The most relevant section for this forum is:

14.1 Patient-centred care

"Autonomous, informed patients are better placed to adhere to long-term therapy, and it is very likely that long-term management

of chronic conditions such as AF will benefit from informed patients who are aware of their own responsibilities in the disease management process. Shared decision-making and patient-centred organization of care can help to ensure adherence to management and empower patients, and respect individual patient preferences, needs, and values Patients in an active role tend to have better health outcomes and care experiences, and engagement itself can be considered as an intermediate outcome."

Stating the obvious, but now we have it backed with authority. This may help someone feeling threatened into following a decision they are not happy with.

[Buffafly]

Bookmarked

[scottie747]

Excellent paper will use for reference well done for finding it. Yes can be frightening, but for me better knowing that not.

[Delle in reply to scottie747]

Sadly that's my problem too scottie 747...wish I weren't SO curious!!!