Earlier Ablation, More Drug Options Highlight New Thinking on Afib

Greater awareness of atrial fibrillation and more aggressive treatment are helping combat this growing problem in the aging population.

Published: September 12, 2014

You may have seen headlines earlier this year proclaiming the higher numbers of hospitalizations due to atrial fibrillation (Afib). While some of the reasons for this increase are due to a population that's living longer and a rise in Afib risk factors, the numbers also reflect greater patient awareness of the disease and more treatment options for physicians, according to cardiologist Walid Saliba, MD, medical director of the Center for Atrial Fibrillation at Cleveland Clinic.