Chapter 1: The Evolving Atrial Fibrillation Landscape: Importance of Early Diagnosis and Treatment.

Chapter 1 begins with data that show the rising prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF), which is increasing in tandem with the growing number of older adults, increased survival of people who have cardiovascular (CV) disorders, and the expanding use of wearable and insertable/implantable devices capable of detection. Together, these increases will result in healthcare providers seeing more patients with AF who present at earlier stages of the disease. The panel discussion covers information regarding symptoms that are common to patients with AF as well as information about the important adverse outcomes that may occur in patients with AF, including heart failure, hospitalization, thromboembolism, and death. Notably, these events may reflect either the comorbidities commonly underlying AF, AF itself, or a combination of these conditions. The chapter also introduces the four pillars of therapy-"upstream therapy," rate control, rhythm control, and embolic prevention-with an emphasis on early rhythm control as being optimal. Chapter 1 is summarized as follows.