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Atrial fibrillation (AF) is encountered commonly in the hospital, particularly in patients with sepsis and those undergoing cardiac or noncardiac surgery. These episodes of AF were once thought to be transient and of little importance. However, mounting evidence suggests that AF detected in these settings is associated with longer lengths of stay, higher morbidity and mortality, and higher rates of recurrent AF. This statement summarizes the latest evidence for managing new AF in hospitalized patients.
A schema of “substrates” (i.e., pathophysiologic abnormalities that predispose the atrium to AF), provoked by acute triggers, can be a useful conceptual fram…