AF-CARE – a new approach to patient care in atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) remains one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias, significantly increasing the risk of complications such as stroke, heart failure, and death [1]. In response to evolving patient needs and advances in medicine, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) updated its guidelines for AF management in 2024. This article aims to discuss these recommendations and present a new patient care model – AF-CARE, which emphasizes a comprehensive, multidimensional, and individualized approach to patients with this arrhythmia. The AF-CARE model is based on four key pillars: treatment of comorbidities and elimination of risk factors (C), prevention of strokes and thromboembolic complications (A), symptom reduction through rate and rhythm control (R), and ongoing dynamic assessment of patient status (E). Implementing this model can significantly improve treatment outcomes and quality of life for patients while reducing the burden on the healthcare system.