Early diagnosis and better rhythm management to improve outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation: the 8th AFNET/EHRA consensus conference
Authors: Schnabel Renate B , Marinelli Elena Andreassi , Arbelo Elena , Boriani Giuseppe , Boveda Serge , Buckley Claire M , Camm A John , Casadei Barbara , Chua Winnie , Dagres Nikolaos , de Melis Mirko , Desteghe Lien , Diederichsen Søren Zöga , Duncker David , Eckardt Lars , Eisert Christoph , Engler Daniel , Fabritz Larissa , Freedman Ben , Gillet Ludovic , Goette Andreas , Guasch Eduard , Svendsen Jesper Hastrup , Hatem Stéphane N , Haeusler Karl Georg , Healey Jeff S , Heidbuchel Hein , Hindricks Gerhard , Hobbs F D Richard , Hübner Thomas , Kotecha Dipak , Krekler Michael , Leclercq Christophe , Lewalter Thorsten , Lin Honghuang , Linz Dominik , Lip Gregory Y H , Løchen Maja Lisa , Lucassen Wim , Malaczynska-Rajpold Katarzyna , Massberg Steffen , Merino Jose L , Meyer Ralf , Mont Lluıs , Myers Michael C , Neubeck Lis , Niiranen Teemu , Oeff Michael , Oldgren Jonas , Potpara Tatjana S , Psaroudakis George , Pürerfellner Helmut , Ravens Ursula , Rienstra Michiel , Rivard Lena , Scherr Daniel , Schotten Ulrich , Shah Dipen , Sinner Moritz F , Smolnik Rüdiger , Steinbeck Gerhard , Steven Daniel , Svennberg Emma , Thomas Dierk , True Hills Mellanie , van Gelder Isabelle C , Vardar Burcu , Palà Elena , Wakili Reza , Wegscheider Karl , Wieloch Mattias , Willems Stephan , Witt Henning , Ziegler André , Daniel Zink Matthias , Kirchhof Paulus 
Published: April 2022

Despite marked progress in the management of atrial fibrillation (AF), detecting AF remains difficult and AF-related complications cause unacceptable morbidity and mortality even on optimal current therapy. This document summarizes the key outcomes of the 8th AFNET/EHRA Consensus Conference of the Atrial Fibrillation NETwork (AFNET) and the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA). Eighty-three international experts met in Hamburg for 2 days in October 2021. Results of the interdisciplinary, hybrid discussions in breakout groups and the plenary based on recently published and unpublished observations are summarized in this consensus paper to support improved care for patients with AF by guiding prevention, individualized management, and research strategies. The main outcomes are (i) new evidence supports a simple, scalable, and pragmatic population-based AF screening pathway; (ii) rhythm management is evolving from therapy aimed at improving symptoms to an integrated domain in the prevention of AF-related outcomes, especially in patients with recently diagnosed AF; (iii) improved characterization of atrial cardiomyopathy may help to identify patients in need for therapy; (iv) standardized assessment of cognitive function in patients with AF could lead to improvement in patient outcomes; and (v) artificial intelligence (AI) can support all of the above aims, but requires advanced interdisciplinary knowledge and collaboration as well as a better medico-legal framework. Implementation of new evidence-based approaches to AF screening and rhythm management can improve outcomes in patients with AF. Additional benefits are possible with further efforts to identify and target atrial cardiomyopathy and cognitive impairment, which can be facilitated by AI.