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Chronic atrial fibrillation has several adverse hemodynamic
consequences: ineffectively contracting atria, irregular ventricular response and inappropriate ventricular rate.
An uncontrolled ventricular response may result in various changes of ventricular function and structure referred
to as tachycardia-related cardiomyopathy. Most studies report that 50 to 70% of patients with atrial fibrillation
have some degree of symptomatic and/or functional impairment. Since it is not possible to restore normal atrial
contractions in chronic atrial fibrillation, the primary therapeutic goal is to achieve adequate ventricular rate at
rest and during exercise, and to protect the patients by oral anticoagulant therapy.
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