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Care Process Model MAY 2013 GUIDE TO OUTPATIENT MANAGEMENT OF Atrial fibrillation This care process model (CPM) was developed by an interdisciplinary team formed by SelectHealth and Intermountain that included primary care providers and Intermountain experts in heart rhythm treatment, cardiology, and anticoagulation. It is based on current 1-3 guidelines and provides practical guidance for atrial fibrillation treatment.Please note that while this document presents an evidence‑based approach that is appropriate for most patients, it should be adapted to meet the needs of individual patients and situations, and should not replace clinical judgment. ON AF? Key points Why Focus • AF prevalence is high in the elderly. • Atrial fibrillation (AF) can be managed through rhythm control or rate control. It increases with age and is estimated at 4 For most patients, it’s helpful to begin by attempting rhythm control; this typically 17.8% in adults age 85 and older. involves a cardiologist referral. • Mortality and morbidity in AF are • Most AF patients should have long‑term anticoagulation, even if restored significant. AF-associated strokes are to sinus rhythm, depending on their stroke risk. more severe, with 30-day mortality of 25% While CHADS2 has often 5 compared to 14% in non-AF strokes. been used to decide which patients need chronic anticoagulation, the newer • AF has a tendency to recur, even if CHA DS VASc score represents the optimal risk stratification tool. See page 7. 2 2 patients are restored to normal sinus rhythm. • The best anticoagulation strategies are based on factors specific to each This tendency increases the importance of patient. Assessment of bleeding risk is appropriate to plan risk reduction and appropriate oral anticoagulation. monitoring. However, it should not influence decision making on whether to • Emerging models for stroke risk and apply anticoagulation therapy. See pages 7 to 10 for guidance on choosing an bleeding risk can make the choice of anticoagulant, monitoring, and other practical issues. anticoagulation safer and more effective. • A working knowledge of AF and its types can help with treatment decisions. 2 Goals OF THIS CPM See the definitions below, adapted from American College of Cardiology guidelines. • Enhance quality of life for AF patients • Facilitate evidence-based care for AF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION (AF): DEFINITION AND TYPES • Guide and standardize appropriate AF workup • Basic definition: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a supraventricular tachyarrhythmia and rhythm control characterized by uncoordinated atrial activation with consequent deterioration of atrial • Limit the duration of AF by converting patients mechanical function — documented continually on an ECG or for at least 30 seconds to sinus rhythm as quickly as possible on monitoring. (For signs and symptoms, see page 3.) • Optimize the use of appropriate anticoagulation • ECG: On an electrocardiogram (ECG), AF is characterized by the replacement of consistent P waves by rapid oscillations or fibrillatory waves that vary in amplitude, shape, and timing, associated with an irregular, frequently rapid ventricular response What’s Inside when atrioventricular (AV) conduction is intact. • Valve involvement: Patients may have valvular AF (caused by rheumatic disease of ALGORITHM AND NOTES ........2 the mitral valve or with a history of valve replacement) or nonvalvular AF. This distinction RHYTHM CONTROL ............4 can affect treatment choices. CHRONIC RATE CONTROL .......6 • Duration and/or recurrence: The duration of AF and/or potential recurrence of CHRONIC ANTICOAGULATION ....7 resolved AF can affect treatment decisions. – Paroxysmal AF: AF that ends in fewer than 7 days and can be recurrent. (This REFERENCES ................ 11 includes episodes that end spontaneously or are resolved with cardioversion.) RESOURCES .................12 – Persistent AF: Continuous AF (present on every ECG test) that is sustained longer than 7 days. – Longstanding persistent AF: Continuous AF that lasts longer than 12 months’ duration, with continued efforts to restore to sinus rhythm. – Permanent AF: Continuous AF of longer than 12 months’ duration, when no further interventions to restore to sinus rhythm are planned. OUTPATIENT MANAGEMENT OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION MAY 2013 ALGORITHM Patient presents with signs and/or symptoms of possible ATRIAL FIBRILLATION (AF) or atrial flutter (AFL) (a) Send to emergency Is patient unstable? (b) YES department with EMS NO transport if possible BASIC EVALUATION FOR AF PATIENTS History Physical History of AF, including symptoms, AF clinical type (see definitions on Vital signs, including oximetry Consider STOP-BANG screen page 1), onset time, frequency, duration, precipitating factors, and modes of ECG to verify AF and identify and/or nocturnal oximetry for previous termination. other cardiac concerns sleep apnea Other medical history, including underlying heart disease, comorbidities, Labs: CBC, CMP, thyroid function Imaging stress test if antiarrhythmic and possible reversible conditions such as hyperthyroidism, electrolyte Transthoracic echocardiogram medications are considered or if moderate to high CHD risk (c) imbalance, or pulmonary disease. Consider CXR if pulmonary signs or symptoms are present RHYTHM CONTROL (g) NO Any reasons NOT to pursue YES CHRONIC RATE RHYTHM CONTROL? (d) CONTROL (h) NO DC cardioversion readily available? CHRONIC YES ANTICOAGULATION (i) AF definitely known to be < 48 YES hours AND NO history of mitral ELECTRICAL (DC) CARDIOVERSION stenosis or prosthetic valves, ONGOING FOLLOW‑UP AND NO history of TIA, stroke, • Evaluate and manage side or thromboembolism? (e) Successful Unsuccessful effects (see medication tables, NO pages 5 and 7) Consider starting Load with • If warfarin prescribed, ongoing Transesophageal ANTIARRHYTHMIC ANTIARRHYTHMIC INR monitoring (see medication echocardiogram (TEE) if patient has and achieve therapeutic table, page 7); Intermountain- readily available? structural heart ANTICOAGULATION employed physicians can use a disease (f) then decision support tool within reattempt DC CARDIOVERSION HELP2 to assist in managing NO YES patients for optimal time in therapeutic range (TTR) TEE before 2nd try successful? NO NO • Reconsider rhythm control cardioversion thrombus YES THROMBUS present ONE‑MONTH ANTICOAGULATION post DC CARDIOVERSION (e) (regardless of CHA2DS2VASc score) • THERAPEUTIC ANTICOAGULATION × 4 WEEKS pre CARDIOVERSION (e) FOLLOW‑UP • Initiate RATE CONTROL if symptomatic or HR >100 • REEVALUATE in 1 month for ongoing treatment, (see medication table, page 6) including CHRONIC ANTICOAGULATION (i) • Evaluate need for continued antiarrhythmia medication AF recurs? AF RECURS or CARDIOVERSION FAILS Follow up with cardiologist to consider cardioversion, antiarrhythmic, chronic rate control, or other options 2 ©2013 INTERMOUNTAIN HEALTHCARE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. MAY 2013 OUTPATIENT MANAGEMENT OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION ALGORITHM NOTES (a) SYMPTOMS associated with AF or AFL (g) RHYTHM CONTROL (see page 4 for details) • Fatigue/tiredness • Palpitations • Dyspnea • Dizziness Why it’s The longer a patient is in AF, the more likely it is to • Chest pain • Weakness important become permanent. Rhythm control is recommended for (b) Signs of INSTABILITY most patients, and should be achieved ASAP if possible. • Unstable vital signs • Myocardial ischemia DC DC cardioversion should be pursued in most patients • Ongoing chest pain with AF • Hypotension cardioversion unless the risks outweigh the benefits or there is a low • Decompensated heart failure chance of success (see factors listed in d at left). (c) Coronary heart disease (CHD) risk Antiarrhythmic Post cardioversion: Consider antiarrhythmic Mild: 1 to 2 risk factors; Moderate: 3 risk factors; High: ≥ 4 risk factors medications medication unless it is the 1st episode and there is no structural heart disease. Age (men > 45, Impaired fasting glucose women > 55 years) (101–125) Chronic: Consider cardiologist referral to evaluate the need for chronic antiarrhythmic medication. Cigarette smoking Family history of premature BP > 140/90 or on CHD (male 1st-degree relative antihypertensive medication < 60 years or female 1st-degree (h) CHRONIC RATE CONTROL (see page 6 for details) relative < 70 years) Low HDL cholesterol (men < 40, When to Patients with the factors listed in note (d) and patients women < 50) Non-HDL cholesterol > 160 consider for whom rhythm control has failed (d) Reasons NOT to pursue RHYTHM CONTROL Treatment goal 60 to 100 bpm The following are reasons to pursue chronic rate control rather than Strategy Use diltiazem or verapamil and/or beta blocker, unless attempting rhythm control: EF < 35%; options include digoxin and amiodarone • Elderly asymptomatic patient with relatively normal heart function • Risks of cardioversion may outweigh benefits (e.g., multiple comorbidities (see pages 7–10 for details) or overall poor prognosis) (i) CHRONIC ANTICOAGULATION • History of ≥ 2 previous DC cardioversions while on antiarrhythmic CHA2DS2VASc scoring: • Low chance of success (AF duration > 1 year; moderate to severe mitral stenosis) Factor Points Examples of AF patients with Congestive heart failure 1 pt score ≥ 2, who will need chronic (e) PRE‑ AND POST‑CARDIOVERSION ANTICOAGULATION Hypertension 1 pt anticoagulation: PRE‑cardioversion — 3 options: Age ≥ 75 years 2 pts • A woman with any of these: • If 4 weeks therapeutic anticoagulation with apixaban, rivaroxaban, Age 65 to 74 years 1 pt hypertension, CHF, age 65,
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