Epidemiology, Burden and Unmet Needs in Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an arrhythmia characterized by chaotic electrical activity in the atria, which causes asynchrony of atrial fibers excitation and contraction. Thus, the organized contractile capacity of the atrium for filling the ventricles is lost which diminishes the ventricular ejection, as well as, auricular blood stasis and turbulent flow favors thrombosis and consequent thromboembolism may develop. Therefore, this arrhythmia has an important clinical impact. This chapter summarizes the several unmet needs in AF, which still constitute a challenge for patients, physicians and health care managers because its medical, social and economic impact probably will worsen over the next decades. Therefore, research and future knowledge of AF will play a major role for modern societies.