The management of new-onset atrial fibrillation in critical illness: an update on current therapeutic options

Purpose of review New-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) is the most prevalent arrhythmia among critically ill patients, correlating with heightened morbidity and mortality rates. Current evidence for managing NOAF in this patient population is limited. Recent findings Numerous meta-analyses have been conducted to assess the efficacy of atrial fibrillation treatments in acute settings, including rate or rhythm control strategies, anticoagulation, and intensive care interventions. The employment of β-blockers for rate control appears to confer greater benefits in critically ill patients. However, the advantage of anticoagulation remains ambiguous because of bleeding risks, which is partly attributed to the scarcity of evidence in the complex context of critical illness. Approximately one-third of patients with transient atrial fibrillation face recurrence within a year. Therefore, vigilant posthospitalization follow-up and monitoring should be considered for high-risk patients to detect atrial fibrillation recurrence. Long-term anticoagulation strategies should be tailored to individual patient profiles, weighing the risks of thromboembolism. Summary Factors predicting atrial fibrillation recurrence include age, the burden of atrial fibrillation, and atrial size. There are significant knowledge gaps concerning NOAF in critically ill patients, highlighting the need for further research, particularly randomized clinical trials.