Discussion The results of this systematic review have the potential to benefit thous and s of patients worldwide as well as healthcare systems and healthcare economy .
Background Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia of the heart with a prevalence of approximately 2 % in the western world .
Atrial flutter , another arrhythmia , occurs less often with an incidence of approximately 200,000 new patients per year in the USA .
Patients with atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter have an increased risk of death and morbidities .
The management of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter is often based on interventions aim ing at either a rhythm control strategy or a rate control strategy .
The evidence on the comparable effects of these strategies is unclear .
This protocol for a systematic review aims at identifying the best overall treatment strategy for atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter .
Evidence at a glance: error matrix approach for overviewing available evidence
Background Clinical evidence continues to exp and and is increasingly difficult to overview . We aim ed at conceptualizing a visual assessment tool , i.e. , a matrix for overviewing studies and their data in order to assess the clinical evidence at a glance . Methods A four-step matrix was constructed using the three dimensions of systematic error , r and om error , and design error . Matrix step I ranks the identified studies according to the dimensions of systematic errors and r and om errors . Matrix step II orders the studies according to the design errors . Matrix step III assesses the three dimensions of errors in studies . Matrix step IV assesses the size and direction of the intervention effect . Results The application of this four-step matrix is illustrated with two examples : peri-operative beta-blockade initialized in relation to surgery versus placebo for major non-cardiac surgery , and antiarrhythmics for maintaining sinus rhythm after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation .  When clinical evidence is deemed both internally and externally valid , the size of the intervention effect is to be assessed . Conclusion The error matrix provides an overview of the validity of the available evidence at a glance , and may assist in deciding which interventions to use in clinical practice
Discussion The results of this systematic review have the potential to benefit thous and s of patients worldwide as well as healthcare systems and healthcare economy .
Background Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia of the heart with a prevalence of approximately 2 % in the western world .
Atrial flutter , another arrhythmia , occurs less often with an incidence of approximately 200,000 new patients per year in the USA .
Patients with atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter have an increased risk of death and morbidities .
The management of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter is often based on interventions aim ing at either a rhythm control strategy or a rate control strategy .
The evidence on the comparable effects of these strategies is unclear .
This protocol for a systematic review aims at identifying the best overall treatment strategy for atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter .