An International Survey of the Management of Atrial Fibrillation in Critically Unwell Patients

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the current management of new-onset atrial fibrillation and compare differences in practice regionally. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. SUBJECTS: Critical care attending physicians/consultants and fellows. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 386 surveys were included in our analysis. Rate control was the preferred treatment approach for hemodynamically stable patients (69.1%), and amiodarone was the most used antiarrhythmic medication (70.9%). For hemodynamically unstable patients, a strategy of electrolyte supplementation and antiarrhythmic therapy was most common (54.7%). Physicians responding to the survey distributed by the Society of Critical Care Medicine were more likely to prescribe beta-blockers as a first-line antiarrhythmic medication (38.4%), use more transthoracic echocardiography than respondents from other regions (82.4%), and more likely to refer patients who survive their ICU stay for cardiology follow-up if they had new-onset atrial fibrillation (57.2%). The majority of survey respondents (83.0%) were interested in participating in future studies of atrial fibrillation in critically ill patients. CONCLUSIONS: Significant variation exists in the management of new-onset atrial fibrillation in critically ill patients, as well as geographic variation. Further research is necessary to inform guidelines in this population and establish if differences in practice impact long-term outcomes.