What is AF Burden about?

[leftythecat]

I had a mild stroke in 2021, was discharged in 3 days w/ zero deficts. Discharge papers said the AF burden was 18%. Began Eliquis. Now, 2023, AF burden is 9 %. What reduced the burden and what does it mean?

[BobD Volunteer]

The AF burden is the amount of time you spend in AF.

If you are paroxysmal , i e the AF comes and goes, it could be anything it fancies. Some people may have events every day for a few hours. others only every month or so. Life style changes often reduce AF burden. Don't over think it. Be happy.

[leftythecat in reply to BobD]

Thanks, Bob. Makes good sense to me.

[mjames1]

It's an imprecise term that may take into account the type of afib, frequency and duration of episodes and/or the percent of time in afib. Because imprecise, different doctors may come up with different numbers, but in general the lower the number, the better. I Do you feel afib is impacting your life less now than two years ago? You can always ask your doctor how they came up with these numbers.

Jim

[leftythecat in reply to mjames1]

Yes, I do feel afib is impacting my life less now than two years ago. I seeing a new Cardiologist who didn't know me two years ago. There's a sense that he might be thinking I'm in denial when I report that I'm not aware of having palpitations. I was in afib at my last 6 month visit and he was surprised that it wasn't worse than it was for me.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to leftythecat]

Just to be pedantic, "palpitations" just means that you are aware of your heart beating so if you are not aware you are not having palpitations. You are therefor asymptomatic.

For many people AF means feeling a box of frogs jumping around in their chest so lucky you. In such cases, so long as the patient is anticoagulated for stroke prevention where appropriate and rate is well controlled no other treatment is needed. Any and all treatment is only ever for quality of life (QOL) as rate controlled AF is not a life threatening condition.

[leftythecat]

When I was diagnosed with AF in 2011 Metroprol and aspirin were prescribed. A Biotronik pacemaker was implanted. At my 6-month device check last week, my new Cardiologist told me the next challenge coming up would be replacing the battery and having to be off Eliquis for a few days before and following. He said that could be very challenging for me. I'd like to know what other peoples experience has been with pacemaker battery changes and being off the anticoagulant.