Question: what is the difference between paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation?
Answer: Paroxysmal AF (PAF), also termed intermittent AF, is defined as an episode of AF that terminates spontaneously or with intervention in less than seven days [4]. "Persistent," "longstanding persistent," and "permanent" are clinical labels used for the other types of AF. (See "Overview of atrial fibrillation".)