Atrial Fibrillation: State-of-the-Art Techniques and Future Perspectives for Diagnosis, Rhythm Control, and Stroke Prophylaxis

Dear Colleagues,

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia in adults, with an estimated prevalence ranging between 2% and 4%. AF has a significant impact on quality of life and functional status, which may lead to depression in up to 20% of cases. Among other clinical features, AF is responsible for 20%–30% of all ischemic strokes and significantly increases the risk of heart failure and dementia. As such, AF poses a substantial burden for healthcare systems, requiring a multidisciplinary approach for early detection, effective treatment, and complication prevention. In recent years, substantial efforts have been devoted to optimizing rhythm control strategies and stroke prophylaxis. As a result of technological advancements, transcatheter ablation has become the most effective arrhythmia control strategy currently available. Specifically, the adoption of novel non-thermal energy sources for cardiac tissue ablation has substantially improved the safety and efficacy of this approach. Similarly, new-generation devices to exclude the left atrial appendage from systemic circulation have proven noninferior in preventing thromboembolic events compared to oral anticoagulation in high-risk patients. The aim of this Topic is to provide new insights into the pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment of AF, with particular emphasis on ablation and stroke prophylaxis.

Dr. Domenico G. Della Rocca
Dr. Cristina Chimenti
Prof. Dr. Gian Battista Chierchia
Prof. Dr. Carlo De Asmundis
Topic Editors