Classification of atrial fibrillation: reply

Drs Tenczer and Tomcsanyi draw further attention to the classification of atrial fibrillation (AF). Clarity, simplicity, and precision compete with one another in any classification scheme. Clarity and simplicity are major determinants of whether or not a classification scheme will be used. Precision minimizes ambiguity, contributing to utility, but can make a classification scheme cumbersome. These problems were recognized in devising the scheme for the classification of an episode of AF promoted in the treatment guidelines.1,2 The scheme is designed for classification of a single episode of AF and classification of a patient with AF is …