Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia experienced by critically ill patients. It has been associated with adverse short-and long-term outcomes, including an increased risk of thromboembolic events, heart failure, and death. Due to complex and multifactorial pathophysiology, a heterogenous patient population, and a lack of clinical tools for risk stratification validated in this population, AF in critical illness is challenging to predict, prevent, and manage. Personalized management strategies that consider patient factors such as underlying cardiac structure and function, potentially reversible arrhythmogenic triggers, and risk for complications of AF are needed. Furthermore, evaluation of the effects of these interventions on long-term outcomes is warranted. Critical illness survivors who have had AF represent a unique population who require systematic follow-up after discharge. However, the frequency, type, and intensity of follow-up is unknown. This state-of-the-art review aims to summarize the evidence, contextualize the current guidelines within the setting of critical illness, and highlight gaps in knowledge and research opportunities to further our understanding of this arrhythmia and improve patient outcomes.

• Keywords
• Atrial fibrillation, Critical illness,
• MeSH
• Atrial Fibrillation * therapy   physiopathology   complications   MeSH
• Risk Assessment MeSH
• Critical Illness * therapy   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH

• Publication type
• Letter MeSH

• Publication type
• Letter MeSH

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia encountered in acute and critical illness and is associated with poor short and long-term outcomes. Given the consequences of developing AF, research into prevention, prediction and treatment of this arrhythmia in the critically ill are of great potential benefit, however, study of AF in critically ill patients faces unique challenges, leading to a sparse evidence base to guide management in this population. Major obstacles to the study of AF in acute and critical illness include absence of a common definition, challenges in designing studies that capture complex etiology and assess causality, lack of a clear outcome set, difficulites in recruitment in acute environments with respect to timing, consent, and workflow, and failure to embed studies into clinical care platforms and capitalize on emerging technologies. Collaborative effort by researchers, clinicians, and stakeholders should be undertaken to address these challenges, both through interdisciplinary cooperation for the optimization of research efficiency and advocacy to advance the understanding of this common and complex arrhythmia, resulting in improved patient care and outcomes. The Symposium on Atrial Fibrillation in Acute and Critical Care was convened to address some of these challenges and propose potential solutions.

• Keywords
• Atrial fibrillation, Critical Illness, Research,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH