FIGURE 2.

Criteria for treating atrial fibrillation (AF). The primary criterion for treating AF is symptom relief. Currently, no conclusive evidence suggests that maintaining sinus rhythm decreases the rates of mortality or severe morbidity. This absence of evidence is probably due to the fact that minimal or no risk of mortality is associated with AF alone, that previously studied methods of maintaining sinus rhythm have been ineffective, and that both pharmacological therapy and invasive therapy are themselves associated with particular risks.